Hengqin Port Records 1.78 Million Crossings in H1 as Macau Single-Plate Cars Surge

Statistics released on July 1 by the Zhuhai General Station of Exit-Entry Frontier Inspection show that Hengqin Port processed more than 17.77 million passenger movements and 2.21 million vehicle crossings in the first half of 2026, representing year-on-year growth of 27.8 % and 40.6 % respectively. Crucially, cars bearing Macau single-plate licences—allowed to enter the mainland without dual registration—accounted for 1.46 million movements, or two-thirds of all vehicular traffic. The data highlight the rapid integration of Macau and the Guangdong-operated Hengqin Cooperation Zone, where favourable tax regimes are attracting gaming-related corporate offices, fintech start-ups and family-office service providers. Since November 2025, Hengqin Port has rolled out face-recognition e-gates in both pedestrian and “joint one-stop” vehicle channels, cutting clearance times to under 100 seconds for preregistered users. A second upgrade in May 2026 introduced licence-plate-only processing for private cars, further boosting throughput. For Macau-based multinationals, the improvements translate into predictable door-to-door commute times for cross-border staff and easier access to Hengqin’s growing stock of Grade-A offices and convention venues. Tourism operators also benefit: weekend leisure packages that combine Macau resorts with Hengqin theme parks and hot-spring hotels are showing double-digit booking growth, according to Ctrip data. Looking ahead, local authorities plan to pilot 24-hour freight clearance for cold-chain goods by October, a move welcomed by Macau’s food-import distributors who currently face overnight storage costs. They are also in talks with the National Immigration Administration to extend single-plate privileges to commercial vans under 5 tonnes, a change that would streamline last-mile logistics between Macau and the mainland. Corporate advisory: Companies relocating staff to Hengqin should brief employees on the “Macau single-plate car” eligibility rules and ensure that personal data are registered in the e-gate system to avoid queues during weekend peaks.