SHANGHAI — Cargo clearance efficiency in Shanghai has been raised by about 30 percent, as the major port city continues to streamline clearance procedures to smooth foreign trade.

The average clearance time for imports and exports within the jurisdiction of Shanghai Customs was 21.67 hours and 1.35 hours respectively for the first eight months of 2017, 26 percent and 32 percent shorter than the same period last year, respectively.

Shanghai has canceled 11 items requiring examination and approval this year, and all clearance applications can now be processed online. Over 95 percent of the cargo declaration is made via the “single-window system,” a trade facilitation policy that enables faster and easier cargo clearance.

From January to August, import and export value at Shanghai ports registered a 16.1 percent growth year on year to 3.9 trillion yuan (about $0.59 trillion). Exports rose 11.4 percent to 2.3 trillion yuan, while imports grew 23.4 percent to 1.6 trillion.

Foreign trade through ports in Shanghai accounts for about one quarter of the national total.