The 2026 Used Car Export Development Conference, themed "Building Ports, Strengthening Chains, and Going Global with Innovation," was held in Yantai, Shandong. Organized by the China Association of Automobile Dealers and hosted by Shandong Port Yantai Group, the conference brought together nearly 400 participants, including industry experts from home and abroad, procurement representatives from Russia, the Middle East, Japan, South Korea, and other regions, domestic used car export enterprises, and officials from port authorities and regulatory bodies. The event focused on compliance management for used car exports, supply chain development, and deepening engagement in overseas markets, collectively exploring new pathways for high-quality Chinese used car exports to the global stage.
Press ReleaseOn 9 23, the 2026 Used Car Export Development Conference, themed "Building Ports and Strengthening Chains: Going Global with Innovation," was held in Yantai, Shandong. Organized by the China Automobile Dealers Association and hosted by Shandong Port Yantai Port Group, the event brought together nearly 400 participants, including industry experts from home and abroad, international buyers from Russia, the Middle East, Japan, South Korea, and other regions, used car export companies, port representatives, and regulatory officials. The conference focused on compliance management for used car exports, supply chain development, and deepening engagement in overseas markets to explore new pathways for high-quality Chinese used car exports.
The conference achieved two core outcomes:China (Shandong) Automotive Export Base Officially LaunchedAlso launched the "Initiative for Building a Compliant Ecosystem for Cross-Border Used Car Trade," establishing a large-scale port-side physical platform to facilitate used car exports from northern China and addressing the lack of centralized export hubs in the region. During the event, Yantai Port and Abu Dhabi Port signed an agreement to create the Asia-Pacific Green Automotive Circular Economy Industrial Base, advancing cross-border automotive circular economy projects and establishing a full-service chain covering domestic vehicle sourcing, inspection and preparation, customs clearance and loading, and overseas delivery. (CNR)
The industry has moved beyond the粗放 stage of arbitrage on zero-mile near-new vehicles. The 180-day vehicle age control policy continues to be implemented.Real used cars from 3–5 years have become the main force in exports.Compliance and transparent vehicle history have become industry baselines. During the conference's special panel sessions, industry experts exchanged insights on key pain points including shifting overseas market demands, VIN-to-announcement consistency verification, new energy used-car battery SOH testing, cross-border finance, and the development of overseas after-sales parts networks. Russian buyer representatives highlighted Russia's entry requirements—such as taxes and fees, OTTC certification, and emergency call systems—and urged exporting companies to prioritize standardized documentation and vehicle condition records to mitigate customs clearance risks. China National Radio.
As the host venue for this conference, Yantai Port is China's largest international hub for domestic commodity vehicles. With 26 international roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) routes established, it has opened a sea-rail intermodal corridor connecting Japan/Korea–Yantai–Central Asia/Mongolia. Leveraging its smart and green Ro-Ro terminal, the port integrates resources across shipping, logistics, finance, trade, and supporting services while coordinating with regulatory agencies including Customs, Immigration, Tax Authorities, and Maritime Safety Administration. This enables centralized storage and inspection of used vehicles and rapid vessel loading, reducing overall circulation costs for enterprises and establishing Northern China's premier export hub for used vehicles. The People's Government of Shandong Province...
Data from the China Automobile Dealers Association shows that in the first 8 months of 2026, more than 45 used vehicles were exported from China, with Russia remaining the top destination. Used new energy vehicles showed remarkable growth, becoming a new engine for expansion. Experts at the conference noted that used car exports are not just an avenue for foreign trade growth; they also help activate domestic used vehicle inventory, stabilize residual values, boost domestic vehicle replacement consumption, and establish a circular automotive economy driven by the synergy between domestic circulation and overseas exports. (CNR)
Industry participants reached a consensus: the overseas expansion of used cars has shifted from competing on low prices and scale to building comprehensive capabilities in standardized inspections, complete traceability records, reliable cross-border logistics, and localized after-sales services. Moving forward, the industry will continue refining export inspection standards, jointly establish overseas parts warehouses and service centers, enhance China's used car brand reputation abroad, and drive a transition from exporting products to delivering synchronized services and brand value.
Industry experts believe that the Lingang base launch and ecosystem co-building initiative announced at this conference will further drive market consolidation, enabling compliant enterprises with full-chain service capabilities to grow stronger. This will lay a solid foundation for the sustained long-term growth of China's used car exports.