[PROJECT NAME] Smart Commodity Inspection Scenario (Supervision of Bulk Resource Commodity - Iron Ore)
[PROJECT OVERVIEW]
To address safety risks in bulk mineral imports such as iron ore and coal—including slag-containing solid waste, radioactive materials, and foreign impurities — as well as challenges of heavy inspection workloads and high operational risks at ports, China Customs has pioneered the application of near-infrared detection and other advanced technologies.
These innovations enable 24/7 real-time monitoring and automated risk assessment of bulk minerals on unloading conveyor belts, while supporting remote supervision by customs officers. The model reduces the average clearance time per shipment by 15 hours, reduce logistics costs by RMB 1 per ton, and cuts on-site inspection workload by about 95%.
[KEY MEASURES]
1. Deployment of advanced detection devices on unloading conveyor belts for real-time monitoring:
l Near-Infrared Spectrometer: Instantly provide elemental composition and spectral data without preprocessing, effectively identifying slag and other solid waste.
l Machine Vision System: Combines high-speed industrial cameras with computing servers to capture images of minerals in motion and automatically detect foreign impurities.
l Pass-Through Radiation Monitor: Continuously measure gamma radiation levels using high-sensitivity detectors and triggers alarms when thresholds are exceeded.
2. Development of six AI-powered risk assessment models integrating global mineral trade data with real-time inspections inputs:
l Regression model for mainstream mineral brands;
l Threshold data model for key mineral elements;
l Spectral comparison model for slag-containing solid waste;
l Visual anomaly detection algorithm for mineral of the same brand;
l Automatic recognition algorithm for unknown Inclusions;
l Intelligent classification model for detected Impurities.
3. Creation of an integrated digital supervision platform combining declaration data, inspection records, algorithmic models, exception handling rules, and enterprise logistics/laboratory information. This unified system enables customs officers to conduct remote, end-to-end inspection of bulk mineral inspections.
[ACHIEVEMENTS]
This model was first launched in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, at the terminal of Baosteel Zhanjiang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Baowu Steel Group, the world's leading steel manufacturer. It has since been expanded to 11 customs districts handling iron ore imports, delivering remarkable results:
l Time Efficiency: Immediate unloading and simultaneous smart detection shorten clearance by an average of 15 hours per shipment.
l Manpower Efficiency: Automated detection and risk analysis reduce inspection workload by over 95%.
l Cost Reduction: Seven pilot enterprises reported cumulative logistics savings of RMB 115 million through reduced demurrage, labor, and machinery cost.
l Secure and Reliable: Fully automated process with digital traceability ensures standardized, safe and efficient supervision.
[SCALING AND APPLICATION]
The detection devices are suitable for both maritime and land ports, while the AI models are broadly applicable across categories. China Customs is further optimizing the model and extending its application to coal and other bulk minerals. The initiative aims to significantly enhance customs supervision efficiency while reducing cost and improving productivity in bulk mineral trade.