GOODS in Shanghai can now be cleared nearly 10 hours faster under a trial by Shanghai Customs, the agency said yesterday, giving the city’s trade facilitation and customs reform a boost.

By the end of 2016, the average time to clear imported goods under the trial took 28.8 hours, with 70.1 percent cleared within 24 hours. Previously, imported goods took 38.6 hours on average to clear, with 60.6 percent released in 24 hours, Shanghai Customs said.

“The shorter customs clearance process will enable trading firms to import and export goods more efficiently,” the agency said.