Shanghai sets sights on surpassing own TEU record

The container throughput at 12 major Chinese ports amounted to 283.8 million TEU between January and November 2023, reflecting a 4.9 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth.

The Port of Shanghai is once again leading the way in sheer volume, having moved 44.4 million TEU between January and November in 2023. The port handled 47.3 million TEU in 2022 and is set to deliver another remarkable performance for the recently concluded 2023.

The Port of Beibu Gulf registered the biggest year-on-year (YoY) growth in throughput at 15.8 per cent, recording 7.2 million TEU for the period between January and November.

All of China’s ports, in fact, experienced a rise in container throughput. The Port of Shenzhen, however, felt the smallest fraction of this YoY growth at 0.2 per cent, having recorded 26.9 million TEU.

READ: Top 5 ports in China 2023

The Port of Dalian, conversely, recorded the smallest throughput in the same period having moved only 4.55 million TEU. Nevertheless, the Port of Dalian experienced the second largest YoY growth, behind the Port of Beibu Gulf, at 13.3 per cent.

All but three of China’s major ports experienced a YoY throughput growth in the month of November, namely, the Port of Xiamen and Yinkou, dropping by 3.5 per cent and 16.9 per cent respectively, and the Port of Guangzhou.

China’s maritime sector has made great strides in bolstering its position in world shipping.

In September 2023, regional maritime administrations and partners in China signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to further collaboration on decarbonisation, digitalisation, talent development, and information sharing.

More recently, the Fujian Government in Fuzhou, China signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Governor Rafael Fonteles of Piauí, Brazil to develop port operations.