On the evening of December 5, 2025, a SF Express cargo aircraft landed at Ezhou Huahu Airport carrying a set of salmon-cutting equipment from Germany. The machinery will soon be assembled into Central China’s first large-scale intelligent salmon production line. This marks the full formation of a “Norway fishing – Ezhou processing – nationwide distribution” supply chain for ultra-fresh seafood.

Intelligent Production Line in Position, Building a Core Hub for Fresh Processing

At 17:07, accompanied by the roar of engines, SF 1841 gently came to a halt. Ground crews used specialized equipment to carefully unload the precisely packed components. The machinery was immediately transferred to the comprehensive bonded zone at Huahu Airport, where installation and commissioning began inside the China Eastern Logistics Central China Fresh Hub plant.

“This is a complete intelligent processing system capable of integrated production from whole-fish handling to standardized sashimi products,” said Qin Weiqin, Chairwoman of Xingjiangyang Group, the project operator. The equipment includes modules for automated sorting, intelligent cutting, and more.

From “Air Corridor” to “Ground Hub”: Completing the Closed-Loop System

Last January, the launch of the Ezhou–Oslo cargo route solved the speed challenge. Now, the establishment of the processing base completes the final piece of the supply chain.

“The air route makes salmon travel fast, while the intelligent production line ensures precision and quality,” Qin explained. She described the ideal supply chain as a closed loop of “deep-sea fishing in Norway → rapid customs clearance at Ezhou Airport → immediate bonded processing → fresh products delivered to retail stores.”

According to Cheng Hu, Project Manager of the China Eastern Logistics Central China Fresh Hub, Phase I of the 5,000 m² processing facility will begin trial operations by year-end, with an annual processing capacity exceeding 20,000 tons. “This is not just a processing base — it is a model integrating processing, trade, and distribution to enhance the entire fresh-food supply chain.”

Redefining Freshness with a New Time–Space Standard

Under traditional models, Norwegian salmon takes 5–7 days to reach Chinese consumers. Ezhou’s model reduces the window to under 48 hours — a breakthrough not only in time, but in quality.

This acceleration stems from three key advantages: • Ezhou Huahu Airport’s strategic location, supported by extensive domestic and international air networks, enabling next-day delivery across China. • Bonded processing in the comprehensive bonded zone, reducing costs. • Efficient green channels for fresh-food logistics, boosting clearance and transport efficiency.

With the newly arrived intelligent cutting system, the salmon production line ensures standardized and traceable processing. Freshness is evolving from a sensory description to a measurable, guaranteed supply chain standard. As Norwegian salmon undergoes “land-and-process” operations in Ezhou and appears on supermarket shelves across Central China the very next day, a new lifestyle of globally accessible freshness will become commonplace.

Centered on Huahu International Airport, Ezhou is accelerating coordinated development across key industrial sectors, building a modern airport-driven industrial ecosystem. Zhou Houqiang, Director of the Economic Development Bureau of Ezhou Airport Economic Zone, noted that the China Eastern Logistics Central China Fresh Hub focuses on high-value, high-speed imported fresh products. The project aligns perfectly with the airport’s robust cargo capacity and global route network. Once operational, it is expected to generate an annual output value of 1 billion yuan.

As night falls, lights continue to shine brightly over Huahu Airport. In the near future, the hum of intelligent production lines will echo alongside the tides of the Atlantic, together opening a new chapter in China’s fresh-food supply chain. From the deep seas of Norway to dining tables across China, a supply chain built on “freshness” is redefining Ezhou’s connection to the world.

Reporters: Su Xiao, Tu Chengzhi

Editor: Ran Tao

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