Shanghai on track for 16th consecutive year as world's busiest container port
Shanghai Port is expected to maintain its position as the world's top container port for the 16th consecutive year, after its annual container throughput exceeded 50 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) on Wednesday.
According to data collected by the port, this milestone was achieved nearly a month earlier than in 2024.
Since the beginning of the year, the eastern Chinese megacity of Shanghai has continuously expanded the shipping routes and improved transshipment inspection efficiency. Shanghai Port has added 12 new international routes, covering 50 major ports worldwide, while increasing shipping transshipment efficiency by 22 percent this year.
A notable example is Yangshan Port, where a bustling scene saw 12 international vessels simultaneously berthed for operations. Within the port, the Shanghai Shengdong International Container Terminal alone handles over 31,000 TEUs per day.
"As of Nov 30, our Yangshan Border Inspection Station has inspected more than 9,600 international vessels, an increase of 4.2 percent year on year, and inspected over 236,000 persons, up 4.8 percent compared to the same period last year," said Wei Rongchun, deputy head of the first duty team of Yangshan Border Inspection Station.
"Shanghai Port boasts the highest frequency of shipping services globally, along with an excellent on-schedule rate. The supporting services, including shipping agency services, customs clearance and warehousing, are also of high quality. In recent years, the application of digital twin technology, big data, blockchain, and electronic bills of lading has significantly enhanced the overall operational efficiency of Shanghai Port," said Zhang Jieshu, secretary-general of the Shanghai International Shipping Institute.
In addition, Shanghai Port is deepening regional collaboration and promoting resource integration within the port cluster of the Yangtze River Delta. Its cooperation with Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in the eastern province of Zhejiang has achieved an 18 percent year-on-year growth in annual cargo throughput.
