Ports serve as essential gateways for the import and export of goods and act as a barometer for the health of the national economy. According to the recently released mid-year report on China's port operations, from January to June, coastal and inland ports saw over 15.21 million vessel movements and handled 9.184 billion tons of cargo. This marks increases of 14.35% and 4.85% respectively compared to last year, with several ports experiencing notable growth.
Along the East Sea coast, two world-class ports showcase the vibrant pulse of economic and trade developments.
At Shanghai Port, the world's largest container hub, the LNG dual-fuel new ro-ro ship "Minjiangkou" made its first call at the Waigaoqiao Haitong Terminal. Over 4,800 domestic-brand cars were loaded in an orderly fashion, setting sail for the Persian Gulf. Two days later, the "Liaohokou," part of the same fleet, is scheduled to dock and load 4,100 vehicles bound for Europe.
New vessels transporting new cars continue to fuel the export surge. In the first half of the year, Haitong Terminal exported over 610,000 domestic vehicles, marking an increase of more than 27% from the previous year. This equates to over 3,000 cars leaving daily from this port, destined for hundreds of global destinations.
Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, which boasts the highest annual cargo throughput worldwide, is a vital hub for exports. Photovoltaic modules produced at Jinko Energy's Jianshan plant in Zhejiang Haining were swiftly loaded for shipment at Meishan Port and sent off to Saudi Arabia. In the first half of the year, approximately 23,000 containers of products from Jinko Energy’s Haining facility were exported through Ningbo-Zhoushan Port to regions including the Middle East, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, registering a growth of over 50% year-over-year.
Opening new routes and exploring new markets have been pivotal. In the first half of the year, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port handled 708 million tons of cargo, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year, and played a key role in driving Ningbo’s import and export value to surpass RMB 680 billion, achieving a new historical peak.
Centered around Shanghai Port and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, with crucial support from 16 other ports including Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Suzhou, this network forms China’s densest and most productive coastal port cluster. This cluster is vital for promoting robust domestic and international economic flows. In the first half of the year, these ports collectively handled over 9 billion tons of cargo, strongly underscoring the sustained positive momentum of China’s economic recovery. During this period, China's total trade in goods reached RMB 21.17 trillion, growing by 6.1% year-over-year, and exceeding RMB 21 trillion for the first time in a comparable period.
Ports are vital to trade and commerce, serving as pillars of economic development.
In recent years, port cities have dedicated themselves to high-quality port development, aiming to strengthen and expand the port economy. Tianjin Port, for instance, has capitalized on its strengths in key goods and Tianjin's industrial advantages. While consolidating and expanding industries such as petrochemicals and grain processing, the port has also attracted specialized sectors like cold chain logistics, cross-border e-commerce, and the cruise economy to establish a strong presence in Tianjin. According to the latest report from the Ministry of Transport, last year, the port economy of 59 coastal port cities in China contributed an added value of RMB 6.2 trillion, accounting for 13.4% of these cities' total economic output. Notably, the port economy's contribution to the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in these coastal cities reached 15%, 22%, and 8%, respectively, underscoring the increasing importance of ports in bolstering the primary and secondary industries.
Ports not only reflect increasing economic activity but also build new momentum for future growth.
On the hardware front, upgrades are ongoing. In the first half of the year, China's ports welcomed seven new large-scale automated terminals, maintaining a global lead in both existing and under-construction automated terminals. The introduction of new-generation automated guided vehicles and unmanned straddle carriers, powered by 5G technology, has significantly enhanced port operational efficiency, supporting the sustained and rapid increase in cargo throughput.
In terms of connectivity, shipping routes are intensifying. With nearly 90% of global trade goods transported by sea, the density of shipping routes is crucial for trade access. To the east, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port introduced three new international routes in the first half of the year, keeping the total at a robust 300 routes, thereby broadening access for more businesses to international markets. To the west, Tianjin Port has initiated sea-rail intermodal services to destinations like Hohhot and Chifeng this year, effectively linking the inland hinterland and unlocking regional development potential.
Service optimization is underway. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has pioneered a streamlined process for sea-rail intermodal export containers, enabling "single declaration, single inspection, single release," which significantly speeds up the global distribution of Yiwu's small commodities. In Guangzhou, Nansha Port serves as the central hub, with feeder ports along the Pearl River, creating an integrated "two ports as one" operational model. This approach to "soft connectivity" in port development translates cargo flow into developmental growth.
Ports are gateways to the world, and land connections extend in all directions. The bustling movement of large vessels and the constant activity of cranes craft a dynamic portrait of development.
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of People's Daily Client. The People's Daily Client version shall prevail.