At the ITG Terminal in the Xiamen Dongdu Port Area, 20,000 metric tons of industrial-grade heavy spar powder was recently loaded onto the bulk carrier Coal Pearl, destined for export to Italy.
This is the first batch of industrial-grade heavy spar powder to be exported by sea following the voluntary implementation of the amendments to the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code.
During the voluntary implementation period from January 1 to December 31, 2024, industrial-grade heavy spar powder can be exported by sea without the need for a "tripartite agreement", provided that no contracting country raises objections.
The export of this batch of heavy spar powder signifies that China's shipping standards for heavy spar powder have become globally recognized, granting Chinese heavy spar powder a passport into the global market.
Taking advantage of the institutional strengths of the Xiamen Free Trade Zone, the Xiamen Maritime Safety Administration engaged with enterprises and drafted revision proposals. They responded to inquiries from experts of various delegations and facilitated the revision of the IMSBC code.
This not only helped enterprises solve export challenges but also promoted the establishment of international standards for the maritime transportation of heavy spar powder in bulk form. This has paved the way for enterprises to establish normalized and large-scale maritime export channels.