The Impact of Customs Special Supervision Zone Policy on the Transformation and Upgrading of Regional Industrial Structure — Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta Region

The Yangtze River Delta is one of China’s most economically advanced and industrially dense regions, yet it continues to face challenges in achieving high-quality industrial transformation due to limited core technological capabilities, inefficient upgrading strategies, and weak regional coordination. This study investigates the role of Customs Special Supervision Zones (CSSZs) in facilitating regional industrial upgrading through the integration of transportation infrastructure, digital systems, financial networks, and technological innovation. Leveraging cross-sectoral policy analysis and case-based evidence from bonded port areas and comprehensive bonded zones, the study identifies how CSSZs enhance manufacturing modernization, attract high-tech investments, and improve system-level efficiency in logistics and industrial operations. The paper further explores how CSSZs enable integration into Global Value Chains and support the formation of advanced industrial clusters. The findings offer strategic policy insights into optimizing the digital, financial, and infrastructural frameworks within CSSZs, aligning with national goals of innovation-driven and technology-enabled industrial ecosystems.