On October 15, the press conference for the 2024 International Shipping Forum was held in Shanghai, where Gao Haiyun, the second-level inspector of the Water Transport Bureau of China’s Ministry of Transport, shared key insights. As of September this year, China’s total maritime fleet has reached 430 million deadweight tons, accounting for 18.7% of the global fleet and maintaining a prominent position in the world.
During the conference, Gao highlighted that China’s ports continue to operate under favorable conditions. From January to August this year, the total cargo throughput at ports reached 1.151 billion tons, while container throughput hit 22 million TEUs, reflecting year-over-year growth of 3.7% and 8.2%, respectively. In terms of transportation structure optimization, China is actively promoting bulk cargo transport via rail and waterways, leading to a rapid expansion in combined rail-water transport. For the same January to August period, the national port container rail-water intermodal volume was 7.78 million TEUs, a significant increase of 17.7%.
Furthermore, China is making substantial strides in the development of smart ports and navigational channels. A number of automated terminals, including those at Shanghai’s Luojing port area, have been completed, with 49 automated terminals now operational nationwide, keeping China at the forefront globally. The publication of electronic navigational charts is also expanding, now covering over 7,800 kilometers of high-grade waterways. Notably, the green port development project at Cangzhou Port has passed inspection, with shore power facilities at coastal trunk hub ports exceeding a coverage rate of 90%.
As a crucial port city, Shanghai is making significant progress in establishing itself as a global shipping hub and enhancing shipping services. Currently, Shanghai’s port throughput is on an upward trend, showcasing improved outreach capabilities. From January to September, the port recorded a container throughput of 39.1 million TEUs, marking an 8% increase year-over-year. The first phase of the Luojing container port has officially opened, featuring one 100,000-ton berth and four 10,000-ton berths, with a designed annual throughput capacity of 2.6 million TEUs. Additionally, the water-to-water transfer ratio at Shanghai port has reached 60.6%, while the container rail-water intermodal volume reached 727,000 TEUs, an impressive growth of 38.6%.
In the realm of air transport, Shanghai’s airport accessibility continues to improve as the aviation market accelerates its recovery. From January to September this year, Shanghai’s two major airports recorded 602,000 takeoffs and landings, serving 93.43 million passengers and processing 3.072 million tons of cargo, reflecting year-over-year increases of 17.8%, 33.5%, and 12%, respectively, returning to levels equivalent to the same period in 2019.
Yu Fulin, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, emphasized that Shanghai will take the initiative to focus on digitization, intelligence, and sustainability. With an aim to enhance efficiency, expand capabilities, and invigorate momentum, the city is committed to promoting its high-end shipping service brand and accelerating the construction of a new generation of smart, green ports, facilitating broader, deeper international cooperation across various sectors.
