由 caicai8478 Abstract
As the global epidemic is gradually brought under control, the pre-prepared food industry has entered a period of rapid development. As a major food producer and exporter in the world, China has great potential for pre-prepared food exports. However, changes in the international trade environment, rising logistics costs, and insufficient cold chain technology in the post-epidemic era pose severe challenges to China’s pre-prepared food exports. This article analyzes the main logistics difficulties currently facing China’s pre-prepared food exports and explores possible breakthrough paths in order to provide a reference for the sustainable development of the industry.
I. Introduction
Pre-prepared food has a surge in demand in the global food consumption market after the epidemic due to its convenience, standardization, and long shelf life. With its complete food industry chain and cost advantages, China has become an important supplier of pre-prepared food in the world. However, the shortcomings in the logistics link, especially cross-border cold chain transportation, warehousing, and customs clearance efficiency, have restricted the further expansion of the industry. How to optimize the logistics system has become a key issue for China’s pre-prepared food exports.
- Logistics Challenges of China’s Pre-prepared Meal Exports
Insufficient Cold Chain Logistics Technology
Pre-prepared meals have strict temperature control requirements, especially seafood, meat and other products need to be cold chained throughout the process. However, China’s cold chain logistics infrastructure is still imperfect, and the cold chain technology of some export companies cannot meet international high standards, resulting in an increased risk of food spoilage during transportation.
High international logistics costs
After the epidemic, the cost of sea and air transportation fluctuated sharply, and coupled with rising energy prices, the proportion of logistics costs in total export costs increased significantly. Some small and medium-sized pre-prepared meal companies were forced to abandon long-distance markets because they could not afford the high freight costs.
Low efficiency of cross-border customs clearance
Different countries have complex food import inspection standards. Some countries and regions still implement strict quarantine policies due to the epidemic, resulting in extended customs clearance time, affecting the freshness and delivery time of pre-prepared meals.
Insufficient supply chain resilience
The global supply chain has not yet fully recovered, and port congestion, reduced routes and other problems have occurred frequently, making the stability and reliability of pre-prepared meal exports face challenges.
- Breakthrough Paths and Countermeasures
Strengthen cold chain technology research and development and infrastructure construction
The government cooperates with enterprises to increase investment in intelligent cold chain warehousing and temperature-controlled transportation equipment.
Promote Internet of Things (IoT) technology, realize full-process temperature control monitoring, and improve the traceability of cold chain logistics.
Optimize international logistics network
Cooperate with multinational logistics companies to establish stable sea and air transport channels, and explore the possibility of land transportation such as China-Europe Express.
Establish overseas warehouses in target markets to reduce transportation time and costs.
Promote internationalization of standards and facilitation of customs clearance
Actively participate in the formulation of international food standards and promote the integration of Chinese pre-prepared food standards with markets such as Europe, the United States, and ASEAN.
Use free trade agreements (such as RCEP) to reduce tariff barriers and improve customs clearance efficiency.
Improve digital management of supply chains
Use blockchain technology to improve supply chain transparency and enhance the ability to respond to sudden risks.
Establish a flexible supply chain system to achieve multimodal transport and dynamic route optimization.
IV. Conclusion
In the post-epidemic era, China’s pre-prepared food exports face multiple challenges such as logistics costs, technology, and customs clearance, but they also contain huge market opportunities. By strengthening cold chain technology, optimizing logistics networks, and promoting international standards, China’s pre-prepared food industry is expected to break through logistics bottlenecks and further enhance its global competitiveness. In the future, the government, enterprises, and industry associations need to work together to build an efficient, stable, and low-cost cross-border logistics system to help China’s pre-prepared food go global.