Container throughput at Chinese ports reached 143 million TEUs from January to May 2025, marking a 7.4 per cent year-on-year increase.
In addition to the surge in container traffic, Chinese ports handled a total of 7.35 billion tonnes of cargo throughput during the same period, representing a 3.8 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Shanghai Port continues to play a pivotal role in this growth. The port recently completed the integrated operational testing of its production systems at the Shengdong-Guandong Terminals, including Phases 1 to 3 of the Yangshan Port Area.
This optimisation of operational efficiency has enabled the port to achieve a throughput of 22.37 million TEUs so far in 2025, a 7.2 per cent increase year-on-year.
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Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has boosted its land-sea logistics links and now operates 308 container routes, helping the port handle 17.32 million TEUs, a 9.6 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
Shenzhen Port added 16 new international container services over the past year, taking its total close to 300. This expansion drove a strong performance, with container throughput reaching 14.23 million TEUs in the first five months of the year, a notable 12.7 per cent year-on-year rise.
Qingdao Port has made strides in terminal automation, with gains in single-machine efficiency for bridge cranes helping to push throughput to 13.54 million TEUs, up 7.8 per cent on the year.
Guangzhou Port followed closely, handling 11.30 million TEUs from January to May 2025, also marking a 7.8 per cent increase, while Tianjin Port processed 9.93 million TEUs, up 3.7 per cent year-on-year.
The recent performance of China’s leading ports comes against the backdrop of a complex and evolving US-China tariff environment. With just one week remaining until the pause on reciprocal tariffs lifts for most countries – and a little over a month for China – uncertainty continues to weigh on global trade.
Adding to this uncertainty, the US Trade Representative (USTR) has finalised significant new port fees on Chinese-built, Chinese-owned, and Chinese-operated ships entering US ports. These measures, set to take effect from 14 October 2025 and phased in over several years, are expected to increase costs for US importers and consumers, potentially leading to higher shipping rates and broader economic impacts.
*The data referenced in this article is sourced from the Ningbo Shipping Exchange, which compiles and provides comprehensive shipping and freight statistics, including the widely recognised Ningbo Containerised Freight Index (NCFI).
