CHINA. The introduction of an expanded offshore duty free shopping policy on Hainan island on 1 July has prompted an immediate surge in sales, according to official statistics from Hainan Free Trade Port.
As reported, individuals can now make duty free purchases of RMB100,000 (US$14,130) every year, compared with the former restriction of RMB30,000 (US$4,285). The range of categories has also been extended from 38 to 45, with smartphones, laptops, game players and wines and spirits being added to the list. Critically, the RMB8,000 (US$1,129) limit for a single tax-free purchase has been removed and 30 cosmetics items per visit can now be purchased instead of 12.
From 1 to 7 July, the first week of the policy, customs statistics reported through local media (and confirmed today by The Moodie Davitt Report) show that 65,000 purchases were made, generating revenues of RMB450 million (US$64.3 million).
Reports said that daily customer numbers are averaging around 10,000, and daily sales ranging between RMB60 million (US$8.6 million) and RMB70 million (US$9.9 million).
The top three categories by volume were cosmetics (83.5%), fragrances (4.7%) and jewellery (1.8%). By value, cosmetics led with 51.3%, followed by jewellery (14.1%) and watches (11.9%).
CDF Mall in Haitang Bay (pictured below) accounted for 78% of total sales, Haikou Meilan Airport Duty 13%, and Sun Moon Plaza Duty Free and Qionghai Boao Dongyu Island Duty Free a joint 9%.
Sales have been spurred by heavy promotions and aggressive pricing, which local reports suggested made cosmetics prices 10%-20% cheaper than those in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, France and Hong Kong.
