Top 5 Major Ports in China

Interestingly, China has 7 of the world’s 10 busiest container ports. Being the powerhouse in global trade, it didn’t come as a surprise.

Now, the Chinese government is heavily investing in port infrastructures boosting its maritime footprint even more. Furthermore, China’s exports accounted for 19% of its GDP as of 2021. Amid the pandemic, China exports rose 3.6% last year, because they were able to resume operations much earlier than their counterparts. 

Many wonder why ports are important to a country’s economic growth?

Mainly because, ports play an important role in supporting economic activities of a nation. It is in fact the center of commerce. Poor port management takes a toll on a country's import and export processes, which leads to slower container turnaround time, which may result in port congestion, and other inefficiencies.

China’s 7 ports being part of the 10 busiest ports shows that Chinese ports are considerably more efficient than their competitors given the volume of containers they have to process on a daily basis. Now, let’s check out the Top 5 Major Ports in China.

1. Port of Shanghai

TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit): 47 Million (2021)

• The Port of Shanghai is not only the largest port in China but also the largest in the world

• Yangshan Phase 4 (YSH4) inside the Port of Shanghai, is the newest and largest automated terminal in the world

• In 2019, Port of Shanghai alone handled 16.6 percent of China’s total cargo traffic

• The port is linked with the longest river in China, Yangtze River, extending to different provinces in China. This is exactly the reason why the Port of Shanghai serves a strategic location for export. Many international companies have built their factories in Shanghai including Tesla. Availability of a highly skilled workforce and good infrastructure made it a go to place for international companies.

2. Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan

TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit): 31.08 Million (2021)

• The port of Ningbo-Zhoushan is the third-largest container port in the world in terms of throughput. It is in the Yangtze River Delta in the Zhejiang Province – the fastest-growing region of China.

• Ningbo serves as a major economic hub along China’s eastern part. Major exports include home appliances, iron & steel, etc.

• Fun fact, Zhejiang province where Ningbo port is located has actually produced second most billionaires in the world. Alibaba is also headquartered in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province

3. Port of Shenzhen

TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit): 28.76 Million (2021)

• The port of Shenzhen is located in Guangdong province, one of the major economic hubs in China, bordering Hongkong. It accounts for 10% of China’s export

• Shenzhen was declared as the first SEZ (Special Economic Zone) by the China government. Furthermore, Shenzhen serves as one of the fastest growing cities in terms high-tech sector

4.  Port of Guangzhou

      TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit): 21.8 Million (2021)

• Guangzhou has over 2,000 year maritime history, it was an important key link of the old Silk Road, the ancient trade route, linking China with the West

• Guangzhou is also China’s 3rd largest city, one of the Tier 1 cities in China, boasting massive infrastructures and a developed economy. 

5. Port of Qingdao

     TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit): 21 Million (2021)

• It’s strategically located in Northeastern China, serves as major transport hub 

• Qingdao’s top four imports include textiles, agricultural products, and many more. Plus it is also the home for the famous Qingdao Beer and International Beer festival

Well-managed ports empower both national and international companies, reducing shipping costs thus enhancing trade. The benefits of having better access to foreign products, not only offer more varieties but can also increase your profit margins, increasing your competitiveness. 

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