Main Container Ports in China 2023

When it comes to international trade, China is always the busiest country with an extensive network of container ports that handle a significant amount of cargo each year. Here at TJ China freight, we will briefly introduce some of the major container ports in China.

Shanghai Port

It is the largest seaport in China and the world, which was put into service in 1842. The port occupies an area of almost 4 km2. The statistics shows that more than 1/4 of all cargo traffic in China are handled in the Port of Shanghai. It has an annual handling capacity of over 40 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). It is also the busiest port in China in terms of both container throughput and cargo volume. The port is a hub for both domestic and international trade and serves as a major gateway to the rest of the world.

Shenzhen Port

Shenzhen port is located in the the Guangdong province of China. It is the second-largest container port in China, and . It also ranks the third among the the largest container ports in the world. The port stretches along 260 km of coast and the port is also divided by the Kowloon Peninsula into two areas: the eastern and the western ports. It is known for its efficiency and speed, and it is well-connected to major trade routes around the world.

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port

Ningbo-Zhoushan port is the third-largest port in China. It has a vast region and long coastline, with coastline stretching across 220 kilometers.It consists of 19 port areas, owns more than 200 large deepwater berths for vessels over 10,000 dwt. Ningbo-Zhoushan port owns and operates most large and super-large deepwater berths in Mainland China. It has an annual handling history of over 28 million TEUs. It is well known for modern infrastructure offers a range of value-added services to its customers.

Qingdao Port

Located in the Shandong province of China, Qingdao port is is one of the 10 busiest ports in China and forth-largest port in China, especially occupied the 7th position in 2019 based on total cargo volume. It mainly serves as a major gateway to Northeast Asia. The port is well-connected to major trade routes and has excellent rail and road links to the hinterland.

Tianjin Port

Located in the northern part of China, Tianjin Port is the fifth-largest container port in the country. It has an annual handling capacity of over 16 million TEUs and is a major gateway to Northern China. The port is known for its advanced facilities and efficient operations and offers a range of value-added services to its customers.

Guangzhou Port

Located in the Guangdong province of China, Guangzhou Port is the sixth-largest container port in the country. It has an annual handling capacity of over 15 million TEUs and is a major gateway to South China. The port is well-connected to major trade routes and offers a range of value-added services to its customers.

Xiamen Port

Xiamen Port is located in the Fujian province of China and is the seventh-largest container port in the country. It has an annual handling capacity of over 10 million TEUs and serves as a major gateway to Southeast Asia. The port is known for its efficiency and speed, and it is well-connected to major trade routes around the world.

Dalian Port

Located in the Liaoning province of China, Dalian Port is the eighth-largest container port in the country. It has an annual handling capacity of over 8 million TEUs and is a major gateway to Northeast Asia. The port is known for its modern facilities and efficient operations and offers a range of value-added services to its customers.

Lianyungang Port

Located in the Jiangsu province of China, Lianyungang Port is the ninth-largest container port in the country. It has an annual handling capacity of over 7 million TEUs and serves as a major gateway to Central and Western China. The port is well-connected to major trade routes and offers a range of value-added services to its customers.

China Main Ports List

China is a major shipping and industrial nation in Eastern Asia, and it is famous for producing different types of products and selling them all over the globe. As a major industrial center, China has built extremely strong shipping networks for oversea trades. According to statistics, China has 34 active ports and more than 2000 minor seaports. Today, we are going to introduce you top 10 main ports in China.

Port of Shanghai

It is the largest port in China and the world. It had consistently topped the rankings since 2010, when it overtook the Port of Singapore. Owing to the sheer volume of trade through this port and its effect on the local population, Shanghai has been designated as one of the four large port megacities across the globe. It is a deep-sea and riverine port. It is managed exclusively by the Shanghai International Port (Group) Company. It took over from the existing Shanghai Port Authority in 2003, and the Shanghai Municipal Government owns its majority shares. Every month, over 2000 ships arrive in the harbor. The port of Shanghai also includes three main work zones – Yangshan Deep Water Zone, Huangpu River, and Yangtze River.

Ports in China – Port of Shenzhen

It’s the second most important port in China and the third in the world. It is located in the southern part of the Pearl River, in Guangdong province. The port of Shenzhen is also one of the busiest and fastest growing ports in the world. It has excellent developments opportunities. Furthermore, it notes steady increases. People consider it as a back-up in trade between China and Hong Kong. It is one of the most important ports for Chinese international trade.

Port of Hong Kong

It is a deep-sea port located in the South China Sea. It is a key factor in the economic development of Hong Kong. Deep water makes the port have ideal conditions for mooring and servicing all types of ships. It is one of the busiest ports in the world, both in terms of transported loads and transported passengers. This fact makes Hong Kong a symbol of container transport.

Port of Ningbo

It’s the busiest port in the world in terms of cargo tonnage. The port is located in Zhejiang Province, south of Hangzhou Bay. In 2014, Ningbo exceeded 20 million TEU for the first time. It is the only port that recorded such a significant increase compared to the previous year (12%). In past years, it was much less than 20 million. The port accepts supplies of raw materials, cargos, and finished products from North America, South America, and Oceania.

The port of Guangzhou

It’s the main seaport in Guangzhou, in the Guangdong province. The port is operated by the state-owned company Guangzhou Port Group Co. Ltd. Despite the unfavorable geopolitical conditions, the port continues to record a steady increase in terms of the number of containers handled. Described as ‘part of the Silk Route of the Sea’ from the third century, during the reign of the Qin dynasty, it was an important trade port.

Ports in China – Qingdao Port

It’s a port located on the Yellow River, near Qingdao, in the Shandong province. The city is also famous and develops thanks to the trade and fishing port. The location on the Jiaozhou Bay also contributes to this. In 2014, the port handled 16.6 million TEU. In 2011, along with three other ports, a strategic agreement was signed with the largest port in South Korea – Port of Busan. Furthermore, the signed alliance aims to create the most significant logistics and transport center in North East Asia. The Qingdao port also has plans to become a local leader. Currently, they are transporting mainly coal, mineral oil, iron ore, and grain. They are also carrying people. The port has relations with over 450 ports, located in around 130 countries.

Port of Tianjin

It’s the biggest port in northern China. It’s often called “the gate of Beijing.” Port of Tianjin has played a significant role since the fourth century. In 1860, it officially became a port of international importance. It is located on the Bohai Bay. It is also the biggest port created by man in China. The port occupies an area of 107 km2 and a quay with a length of 21.5 km. In 2010, over 413 million tons of cargo were transshipped there. Port, annually is handling over 13 million TEUs.

Ports in China – Port of Dalian

The port was established in 1899. It is located in the Liaoning province, on the Liaodong peninsula. It is the northernmost port in China, where water doesn’t freeze. The port also has over 80 berths. At 50 of them, ships with a cargo of over 10000 tones can be moored. The port mainly reloads mineral oil, coal, grain, and refined oils. In 2010, 313 million tons of cargo were unloaded at the port. Ships arrive in Dalian from over 300 ports from 160 countries. Over 90 routes of traders (both global and local) pass through the Dalian port. It is the second largest transshipment hub in China.

Port of Xiamen

It is a port situated along the estuary of the Jiulongjiang River in the south of Fujian Province. The port has connections with over 60 ports in 40 countries and regions. Due to the location, cooperation with Taiwan is very important here. The port has been modernized. Currently, it is adapted not only to tourism but also to transport people, transshipment, transit, and trade. There is also a railway line within the port.