Cat trees are produced from Jiangshan, a county-level city in Quzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

At Zhejiang Firstwell Technology Co, a batch of cat trees valued at 141,000 yuan ($19,833) passed inspection by Quzhou Customs and was loaded for shipment to the United States on Oct 9, which marked the 487th export batch for Zhejiang Firstwell this year alone.

From January to September, Jiangshan's bamboo and wood product companies exported pet supplies worth 36.97 million yuan, marking a 5.4 percent increase from the previous year, according to Tide News on Oct 16.

With the growing number of pet owners worldwide, this industry has emerged as a significant driver of global trade. Jiangshan’s bamboo and wood product enterprises are embracing this trend, finding a new path for foreign trade growth.

"In some countries in Europe and the Americas, cat trees have gone from mere pet supplies to becoming integral parts of home decor. Only products with outstanding design and superior quality can attract customers. Our cat trees are now exported to 21 countries and regions globally," said Wang Xiaochao, chairman of Zhejiang Firstwell.

However, humidity in China's southern regions poses challenges such as mold and pests for bamboo and wood products, increasing quarantine risks and potentially delaying shipments, according to Wang.

To address these challenges, Quzhou Customs has implemented grid-based services, optimized supervision models, and introduced remote inspection methods, which help businesses save on storage, logistics, and time.