China Sea Ports Major Ports and Rankings Explained

China has a vast network of sea ports, with many of them playing a crucial role in the country's economy. Shanghai Port is the busiest port in China, handling over 740 million tons of cargo in 2020.

Located in the Yangtze River Delta, Shanghai Port is a major hub for international trade, with a container throughput of over 43 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2020. The port's strategic location and advanced infrastructure make it an ideal gateway for goods entering and exiting China.

The Shanghai Port is followed closely by Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, which is the second-busiest port in China. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port handled over 1.1 billion tons of cargo in 2020, making it a significant contributor to China's maritime trade.

China's sea ports are not just limited to these two major hubs, with several other ports also playing important roles in the country's economy.

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China has a vast coastline, and its sea ports play a crucial role in its economy.

The Liaoning province is home to several significant ports, including the Port of Dalian, the Port of Jinzhou, and the Port of Yingkou.

Some of the notable ports in Shandong province are the Port of Weihai, the Port of Yantai, Qingdao Port, and Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal.

Here's a breakdown of the ports by province:

Guangdong is a major player in China's maritime trade, with a string of impressive ports along its coastline.

The Port of Guangzhou is one of the busiest ports in China, handling a significant volume of cargo and containers.

The Port of Shenzhen is another key player, with a reputation for efficiency and speed.

The Port of Shantou is a major hub for the province's trade with Southeast Asia.

The Port of Zhanjiang is a significant player in the region's oil and gas trade.

The province's ports are supported by smaller ports like Shunde Port, Rongqi Port, and Gaolan Port.

Hainan is a significant region with a notable presence of ports.

One of the main ports in Hainan is the Haikou New Port.

Haikou Port New Seaport is another important port in the area.

Haikou Xiuying Port is also a notable port in Hainan.

Macun Port and Port of Yangpu are two other significant ports in the region.

South Port is the final port in Hainan, completing the list of notable ports in the area.

Here are the ports in Hainan mentioned earlier:

Hebei is a province in northern China, known for its rich history and cultural heritage. It's located near the capital city of Beijing and is a major agricultural producer in the country.

The province has a long history dating back to the Zhou Dynasty, with many archaeological sites and museums showcasing its rich cultural past. Hebei is also home to the famous Tianjin Grand Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hebei's economy is primarily driven by agriculture, with major crops including wheat, corn, and soybeans. The province is also rich in natural resources, including coal, iron, and steel.

The capital city of Hebei is Shijiazhuang, a bustling metropolis with a rich cultural scene and a blend of traditional and modern architecture.

Jiangsu is a province in eastern China that boasts a strong maritime presence.

The Port of Suzhou is a significant shipping hub in the region, providing access to the Yangtze River Delta.

Changshu Xinghua Port is another key port in Jiangsu, handling a substantial volume of cargo.

The Port of LianYunGang is also a major port in the province, serving as a crucial transportation link.

Here are some of the notable ports in Jiangsu:

Liaoning is a significant province in China with a strong maritime presence. The Port of Dalian is one of the major ports in the region, handling a significant volume of cargo.

The Port of Dalian is strategically located on the Liaodong Peninsula, providing easy access to international shipping routes. This has contributed to its growth as a major trade hub.

The Port of Jinzhou and Port of Yingkou are also key ports in the region, offering additional capacity and supporting the local economy.

Shandong is a major port region in China, boasting some of the country's most impressive maritime infrastructure.

The Port of Weihai is one of the notable ports in Shandong, offering a significant shipping hub for the region.

The Port of Yantai is another key port in Shandong, known for its busy container shipping operations.

Qingdao Port is a major container terminal, playing a crucial role in the region's trade and commerce.

Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal is a state-of-the-art facility, providing efficient and reliable container handling services.

Here are some of the notable ports in Shandong:

Zhejiang is one of China's most economically developed provinces. It has a GDP per capita of over $20,000, significantly higher than the national average. The province is a major hub for manufacturing, particularly in the electronics and textiles industries. Its coastal location has made it a key player in China's export market. Zhejiang's cities, such as Hangzhou and Ningbo, are among the country's most affluent.

Beibu Gulf is a significant part of China's southwestern coast, boasting over 50 domestic and international connections.

The Port of Beibu Gulf is a relatively new addition to this coastal region.

It has a substantial number of berths, with 72 bulk cargo berths and 18 container berths.

This port is divided into three main parts: Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, and Beihai.

The Port of Beibu Gulf saw an impressive annual throughput of 8.02 million TEUs in 2023.

China has a vast network of sea ports, with many major ones scattered along its coast. Shanghai is one of the busiest seaports in the world.

There are 34 major ports in China, including Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Tianjin. Here are some of the key ones:

1. Dalian

2. Yingkou

3. Jinzhou

4. Qinhuangdao

5. Tianjin

6. Yantai

7. Weihai

8. Qingdao

9. Rizhao

10. Lianyungang

11. Nantong

12. Zhenjiang

13. Jiangyin

14. Nanjing

15. Shanghai

16. Ningbo

17. Zhoushan

18. Jiujiang

19. Taizhou, Jiangsu

20. Wenzhou

21. Taizhou, Zhejiang

22. Changle

23. Quanzhou

24. Xiamen

25. Shantou

26. Jieyang

27. Guangzhou

28. Zhuhai

29. Shenzhen

30. Zhanjiang

31. Beihai

32. Fangchenggang

33. Haikou

34. Basuo

These ports play a crucial role in China's economy, handling a significant portion of the country's international trade.

The Port of Shenzhen is the fourth largest sea container port in China, located in Guangdong Province, and has a coastline of 260 km. It's one of the busiest and fastest-growing ports in the world.

The Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan is China's oldest and second-largest seaport, with a coastline of 333 km. It's located in Zhejiang Province, south of Hangzhou Bay. The port includes several ports, such as Beilun and Zhenhai.

The Port of Guangzhou handled 24,600,000 TEU in 2022, making it South China's biggest comprehensive hub port. It contains 49 berths, 23 anchorages, and 13 buoys.

The Port of Hong Kong is a deep-water seaport in the Victoria Harbor of South China, with container traffic of 19.6 million TEU in 2018. It's one of the world's largest and busiest ports, with nearly 0.5 million vessels annually.

The Port of Shanghai is the largest seaport in the world, having surpassed the Port of Singapore in 2010.

Located in the Yangtze River Delta, the port enjoys an ideal geographical location and a very good economic base.

Shanghai Port has a long history, dating back to 1842 when it was opened as a treaty port.

It's managed exclusively by the Shanghai International Port (Group) Company, which took over from the existing Shanghai Port Authority in 2003.

The port is built along the junction of the Yangtze, Huangpu, and Qiantang Rivers, and has a vast hinterland that spans over 3,500 sq kilometres.

The Port of Shanghai supplies a vast area and is naturally protected due to its location.

Shanghai has been designated as one of the four large port megacities across the globe, due to the sheer volume of trade through this port and its effect on the local population.

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The port is classified into working areas- Huangpu, Yangtze, and the Yangshan Deep Water Zone.

The Yangshan Port is the world’s largest automated port and handles most container traffic.

In 2019, the port handled 43.3 million TEU in container traffic and 514 million tons in cargo tonnage.

The nearby satellite port of Yangshan is built to handle traffic during shallow water conditions and is connected to the main port via the Donghai Bridge.

Shanghai Port has received numerous accolades for its operations, including the “Best Connected Port” title from UNCTAD.

In 2023, the Port of Shanghai achieved an annual throughput of 49.15 million TEUs.

Shenzhen is a major port city in Guangdong Province, China, and home to the Port of Shenzhen.

The Port of Shenzhen is ranked 2nd nationally and 3rd globally in cargo thoroughfare, with a naturally protected harbour in the Pear River area.

In 2018, the port handled 27.7 million TEU of container traffic and 194.9 million tons of cargo tonnage.

The port serves over 50 global shipping lines and has over 130 international routes, with nearly 10,000 vessels visiting annually.

It's divided into various zones, including Da Chan Bay, Donjiaotou, Neihe, Shayuchong, Yantian, Shekou, and others, with over 140 berths.

The Western zone is a deep-water port connected to other Chinese ports via the On See Dun waterway.

The port has a coastline of over 250 kilometres and is part of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor used for road transport across the provinces' border.

In 2023, the Port of Shenzhen handled 29.88 million TEUs, making it the fourth largest sea container port in China.

Located in Zhejiang Province, the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan is the busiest port globally for cargo, shipping over 1 billion tons annually. It's a multi-purpose port with nearly 200 berths, including 40 that can process ships over 10,000 DWT.

The port is connected to 90 countries and 560 ports, and it's well connected via waterways, rail, and roads to interior China. It's owned and managed by the Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group Co.

The port has one of the largest ore handling yards, with a storage yard capacity of 4.1 million tons and dedicated shipping berths. It's tied up with Vale miners in Brazil to build the Shulanghu hub that processes iron ore grinding.

The Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan has seen steady growth, with a year-on-year increase of 7.3 percent in TEUs handled, reaching 33,350,000 TEUs last year. It's located in the fastest-growing investment and economic area of China, known as the "Golden Triangle" or "Lower Yangtze River".

The port's coastline is 333 km long, and it includes several ports, such as Beilun, Zhenhai, and the old port of Ningbo. It's an important place for inland waterway transport and offers a wide range of services, including loading, unloading, storage, and logistics for containers and other cargoes.

In 2023, the port's annual throughput reached 35.3 million TEUs, making it China's second-largest seaport in terms of TEU throughput.

Guangzhou is one of the busiest ports in mainland China, handling over 600 million tons of cargo in 2018.

Located on the Pearl River Delta, the port is managed by the Guangzhou Port Group Company and trades with over 80 nations and 300 ports.

The port is well connected by rail, road, air, and inland waterway, with over 4,500 berths and 2,400 anchorage points.

It's close to the base of Nansha Wetland Park and has large storage spaces, bonded warehouses, customs checkpoints, and logistics centers.

Commonly shipped goods include agricultural produce, foodstuffs, industrial goods, machinery, oil, fertilizers, steel ore, minerals, and automobile parts.

The port is undergoing expansion to handle vessels over 100,000 deadweight tons through dredging activities.

The Port of Guangzhou annual throughput in 2023 was 20.8 million TEUs.

It's a major hub for industries in neighboring provinces, including Guangxi, Yunnan, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Jiangxi.

Hong Kong is a major deep-water seaport in the Victoria Harbor of South China.

The Port of Hong Kong is one of the world's largest and busiest ports, with container traffic in 2018 reaching 19.6 million.

It receives nearly 0.5 million vessels annually, over 250 million tons of cargo, and over 25 million passengers annually.

The Port of Hong Kong has one of the lowest turn-around times in the region, with an average of 10 hours for container vessels and 47 hours for tankers anchored off-site.

The main container terminals are Kwai Chung, Tuen Mun, Stonecutters Island, and Tsing Yi, operated by companies like Modern Terminals Ltd. and Asia Container Terminals.

The Port of Hong Kong has nine container terminals, providing 18 berths for incoming vessels, with work underway for a 10th terminal.

The Hong Kong Port is famous for mid-stream operations, where vessels do not have to approach the port during peak or hazardous conditions.

The Port of Hong Kong serves over 15 million passengers using regular ferry services to Macau and other ports in mainland China.

In 2023, the Port of Hong Kong achieved an annual throughput of 14.34 million TEUs.

Rizhao is a significant port in Shandong Province, facing the Yellow Sea.

It started as a coal-handling port but has evolved into a major distribution center for crude oil and liquid chemicals in northern China.

In addition to its oil and chemical handling capabilities, Rizhao Port also boasts the largest grain terminal on the Chinese coast.

The port's annual throughput in 2023 was 6 million TEUs, reflecting its growing importance in the region.

Rizhao Port is open to shipping with more than 100 countries and regions, and it has established 38 domestic trade container routes and 11 foreign trade container routes.

It's worth noting that the port has experienced a significant year-on-year increase of 12.1 percent, handling 5,800,000 TEUs in 2022.

Rizhao Port is a deep-water seaport, facilitating the transportation of various goods and commodities.

The port's strategic location and modern infrastructure make it an essential hub for trade and commerce in the region.

Tianjin is a major deep-sea and riverine port in China, located in the Northern region.

It's the largest port in the Northern region, covering over 120 sq kilometres.

Tianjin is known as the Port of Tanggu, and it's China's largest artificial harbour.

The port is a primary maritime route to the capital, Beijing.

It's one of the largest ports in the world, ranking 4th worldwide in terms of cargo traffic and 9th in terms of container traffic.

Tianjin handles over 15.97 million TEU in 2018 and 428.7 million tons of cargo.

The port is self-sufficient, with in-house police, ambulance, and emergency services.

It has a customs house, a border protection unit, and an Anti-Smuggling Bureau.

Tianjin services vessels from over 600 ports spread over 180 nations.

Over 100 different shipping lines run services here, while 60 liners have operations in Tianjin.

The port is classified into nine zones, including Beijing, Nanjiang, and Dongjiang.

Ship locks and tidal barriers facilitate vessel movement while sheltering the harbour from adverse climate conditions.

Tianjin also has many shipyards capable of building and large-scale repairs.

Dalian is a major seaport that serves much of the Pacific coastline.

Situated on the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, it is a deep-water port, the 2nd largest transhipment hub on the Chinese mainland.

The port has been operational since 1899 and is managed by the Dalian Port Corporation.

Container trade began in 1972 and was the first port to handle international container shipments from China.

The main port has smaller zones in Daliangang, Dalianwan, Ganjinzi, Dayaowan, etc.

The port is well connected by rail and road and has large storage zones for cargo and containers.

Dalian primarily receives most of its revenue through its domestic loads of cargo and minerals.

The Dalian Container Terminal (DCT) operates seven berths previously owned by Nippon Yusen, Singapore Dalian Port Investment, and PSA China.

The port services vessels from over 160 different nations across 300 ports.

Modernized berths are deep water and have an average depth of 16 meters.

Xiamen is a deep-sea port ranked 17th in the world regarding cargo thoroughfare.

Located on Xiamen island along the Jiulongjiang River, Xiamen is a major hub for international trade.

The port operates across 12 different zones with a combined 74 berths, including 9 dedicated container handling terminals.

Some operational zones include Heping, Haitian, Liwudian, and Dongdu.

Xiamen is technologically advanced and serves all the top shipping lines, with nearly 500 vessels monthly from over 50 countries.

The port has a regular service of 70 routes passing through the top ports from Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

It also operates a small passenger ferry connecting Xiamen to other mainland ports, including regular ferries to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Wenzhou.

The port handled 12,430,000 million TEUs in a year, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 3.2 percent.

The Port of Xiamen is located at the estuary of the Jiulongjiang River in the south of Fujian Province.

It has facilities and equipment suitable for handling all types of unloading, as well as modern cranes, etc.

The port area covers Xiamen and Dongshan Bays.

The port's annual throughput in 2023 was 12.55 million TEUs.

The Port of Yingkou is a significant player in China's maritime industry. It's located in Liaoning Province and is known for its large container traffic, with 6.5 million TEU in 2018.

The port operates 27 berths and numerous smaller piers and docks, making it a major hub for cargo handling. Yingkou Harbor is larger than the top ports of other nations.

The main imports to the port include coal, steel, automobiles, and grain. The primary exports are containerized goods, machinery parts, mass-produced goods, electronics, and foodstuffs.

Yingkou is divided into two working zones: the Old Yingkou Port on the Daliao River and the Bayuquan Port on the Bohai Sea. The port offers a range of services to incoming ships, including loading, pipeline transportation, and pilotage.

In 2015, Yingkou was ranked among the top 50 ports globally.

Beibuwan is a significant port that has seen impressive growth. It handled 7,020,000 TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 16.8 percent.

This increase is notable, especially considering the port's overall performance. Beibuwan's growth reflects its increasing importance in the global shipping industry.

The port's ability to handle a large volume of containers is a testament to its efficiency and capabilities.

Lianyungang is a major port in China that's been growing rapidly. It handled 5,570,000 TEUs in the last year, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 10.7 percent.

The port is strategically located at the crossing point of China's major railways and roads, making it a hub for international trade. It's also centrally located to ports in Japan, South Korea, and within a 500-mile radius of the port.

Lianyungang Port has a long history, dating back to its opening in 1956. Its main port area consists of several key areas, including the Mayao Port Area, Miaoling Port Area, Xugou Port Area, and Qitai Port Area.

The port is a significant player in international trade, trading with over 450 ports in 130 countries and regions.

A seaport is a place on the coast where ships come to load and unload goods, connecting sea freight with land transport. It's a vital hub for international trade, helping move goods between countries.

Seaports typically have special equipment like cranes and storage areas to handle different types of cargo, such as containers or bulk goods like cars or machines. Shanghai Port and Yantian Port are the two predominant choices for shipping operations in September 2023.

Seaports with higher rankings generally indicate robust infrastructure, streamlined processes, reliable services, and better connectivity to various destinations. Opting for highly-ranked China seaports increases the likelihood of a great shipping experience and efficient supply chain management.

Shanghai Seaport is the largest seaport in China, making it a vital hub for both imports and exports.

The top ten bustling seaports in China, based on rankings, are listed below:

These rankings demonstrate the significance of Shanghai Seaport as the largest seaport in China.

Interpreting rankings can be a crucial step in choosing the right seaport for your shipping needs. Shanghai Port and Yantian Port are the two predominant choices for shipping operations in September 2023.

A higher ranking generally indicates robust infrastructure, streamlined processes, reliable services, and better connectivity to various destinations. Seaports with higher rankings are more likely to offer a great shipping experience and efficient supply chain management.

By reviewing the rankings of major seaports in China, you can gauge the level of activity and efficiency at each port to some extent.

Opting for highly-ranked China seaports increases the likelihood of a smooth and efficient shipping experience.

A seaport is a place on the coast where ships come to load and unload goods, connecting sea freight with land transport.

Seaports have special equipment like cranes and storage areas to handle different types of cargo, such as containers or bulk goods.

They are important for international trade, helping move goods between countries.

Seaports can be categorized into various types, including cargo ports, cruise ports, and fishing ports.

Cargo ports, in particular, are designed to handle large volumes of goods, often with specialized equipment to manage different types of cargo.

Choosing a Port can be a daunting task, especially if you're new to shipping in China. Shipping can take longer if you choose door-to-door and LCL.

The actual costs and transit time vary greatly depending on the location of the port. Before making a decision, it's essential to research the costs associated with each port.

Some ports in China are closer to major cities, which can reduce transit times. However, this may not always be the case, and it's crucial to consider the overall shipping time.

Door-to-door shipping can be more convenient, but it's often more expensive than shipping to a terminal. LCL shipping can be more cost-effective, but it may require more time and effort to arrange.

Ultimately, the choice of port depends on your specific needs and priorities. By considering the costs, transit time, and convenience, you can make an informed decision that suits your requirements.

China's sea ports are on the rise, with many ports experiencing year-on-year increases compared to 2021. This trend is likely to continue, but it will be interesting to see if Shanghai will maintain its top spot next year.

We can expect to see more updates on the industry's developments, and it's worth keeping an eye on the weekly market updates for the latest freight news and insights.