Animation-themed craft swords from Longquan, a county-level city in Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

Workers at Longquan Shenghe Sword have been producing animation-themed craft swords for Europe and the United States recently. The custom game prop swords are unbladed, with rounded tips before export to meet European customs standards.

The company's exports reached 16.44 million yuan ($2.46 million) in the first nine months of 2026, up 22.1 percent year-on-year.

As Longquan swords move toward cultural creative products and animation props, Lishui Customs has introduced appointment-based and remote video inspections and credit-based supervision to significantly shorten clearance times.

Zhejiang Zhengshi Sword develops differentiated products for overseas markets and invests more than 1 million yuan in research and development each year.

Longquan Jiangren Celadon combines traditional replicas with creative products, and exports to Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia. Its sword exports exceeded 7 million yuan in the first nine months of this year.

According to Lishui Customs, Longquan sword-related exports totaled 56.16 million yuan in the first nine months, up 44.7 percent year-on-year, with 11 local sword companies exporting.