An official report on Thursday showed that in July, China’s major ports maintained stable operations, with container throughput recording a modest year-on-year increase. A number of ports posted robust growth, underscoring the resilience of China’s logistics sector.
In July, national container throughput reached 29.96 million 20-foot equivalent (TEU) containers, up 3 percent from a year earlier. Coastal ports handled 26.44 million TEUs, up 3.1 percent year-on-year, while inland river ports processed 3.51 million TEUs, marking a 2-percent rise, the Shanghai Shipping Exchange said on Thursday.
Port throughput is seen as a barometer of trade. Recently released half-year earnings reports by major listed port operators also reflected the strong fundamentals of the container transport sector.
From January to August, Yantian Port in Shenzhen, South China’s Guangdong Province, handled 10.59 million TEUs, up 9.6 percent year-on-year and setting a record high, the China Media Group reported on Thursday.
As of Thursday, Yantian Port added 14 new international shipping routes in 2025. September is traditionally the peak season for foreign trade, and the port has been particularly busy in recent weeks, a representative of the port told the Global Times.
And, Qingdao Port reported steady growth in key operational indicators. In the first half of the year, cargo throughput reached 360 million tons, up 2 percent year-on-year.
Also, Ningbo Zhoushan Port recorded cargo throughput of 601 million tons in the first six months, marking a growth of 4.7 percent year-on-year, while container throughput reached 25.47 million TEUs, up 9.8 percent, the port’s operator said.
The port attributed the improved performance to higher operational efficiency, with inbound ship pre-inspection approval rates rising steadily and average waiting time for container vessels reduced significantly. Average berthing efficiency improved 7.46 percent year-on-year.
And, inland rail-sea intermodal services and port networks have expanded. Industry experts noted that the growth of container volume in rail-sea intermodal transport shows the role of multimodal solutions in securing cargo and strengthening service stickiness.
“Industrial chain advantages, along with the development of green and smart ports, have been major drivers stabilizing and improving port performance,” Bian Yongzu, executive deputy editor-in-chief of Modernization of Management magazine, told the Global Times.
“In a year when global trade has been largely sluggish, China’s exports have maintained relatively fast growth, underlining the resilience of the Chinese economy,” Bian noted.
Major ports are relying on regional industrial strength to reinforce growth. For example, Yantian Port in Shenzhen has aligned with local high-tech research and manufacturing.
Industries such as new-energy vehicles, photovoltaic power, medical equipment, and household appliances are rapidly upgraded in recent years, with rising product quality and technological content. This has fueled robust export growth despite external headwinds, reflecting the effectiveness of China’s industrial transformation and the synergy between manufacturing and logistics, Bian said.
The ongoing transformation of the ports themselves has become a microcosm of China’s economic development. By adopting green practices and advanced tech, ports have raised their automation levels, improved operational efficiency and lowered operational costs. This not only strengthens their competitiveness but also draws more shipping lines to call at Chinese ports, Bian said.
In the first seven months of 2025, China’s total goods trade stood at 25.7 trillion yuan ($3.52 trillion), up 3.5 percent year-on-year, official data showed.
Source: Global Times