All Other Peoples Republic of China Ports, China

Port Overview

China’s “All Other Ports” beyond the major hubs are distributed along its extensive coastline and inland waterways, including locations such as Dalian, Lianyungang, Suzhou, and Xiamen. These ports vary in size, with annual TEU capacities typically ranging from 4 to 10 million. While not ranked among the top five, they are strategically important for regional trade, specialized cargo, and connecting interior provinces to global markets. Collectively, these ports enhance China’s logistics network, support industrial clusters, and facilitate exports, making them vital to the country’s overall maritime infrastructure.

Facilities & Infrastructure

China’s main ports outside Shanghai include Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian, Xiamen, and Fuzhou. These facilities feature extensive container, bulk, and general cargo terminals, deep-water berths, and advanced logistics zones. Key equipment includes high-capacity ship-to-shore cranes, automated stacking cranes, and fleets of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) at leading terminals. Many ports have invested in automation, green technologies, and integrated rail-road connections to maximize efficiency and throughput.

Container Terminals

China operates numerous container ports beyond its top facilities, collectively handling substantial volumes through the nation's extensive port network. These terminals feature hundreds of berths with varying automation levels, from conventional operations to semi-automated systems with shore power and digitalized loading equipment. Major operators include provincial port groups and China's state-owned shipping corporations. The ports emphasize multimodal connectivity, linking coastal operations with inland waterways and rail networks. Combined, these facilities processed approximately 170 million TEUs in the first half of 2025, supporting China's position as the world's leading container handling nation.

Port Services

• Container handling: Loading, unloading, and storage of containers for international and domestic shipping.
• Cargo operations: Bulk, breakbulk, liquid, and general cargo handling, including specialized terminals for various commodities.
• Ship services: Berthing, pilotage, bunkering, ship repair, maintenance, and supply of provisions.
• Warehousing: On-site and bonded warehouses for storage, consolidation, and distribution of goods.
• Customs: Customs clearance, inspection, documentation, and regulatory compliance for import and export cargo.

Global Connectivity

Beyond the major hubs like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Ningbo, China operates over 30 significant ports across its 14,000-kilometer coastline. These secondary ports include Dalian, Tianjin, Qingdao, Xiamen, Fuzhou, and Guangzhou, serving distinct economic zones from the Bohai Rim in the north to the Pearl River Delta in the south. This extensive network connects to the Yangtze River Delta, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Europe, and North America through the Maritime Silk Road. The ports facilitate 95 percent of China's international trade, linking inland manufacturing centers to global markets with multimodal transportation systems.

Port Statistics

All Other Peoples Republic of China Ports, China – Key Statistics (2025):

• TEU Throughput: Combined container throughput for all Chinese ports exceeds 268 million TEU annually, with major individual ports (excluding Shanghai) such as Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shenzhen, Qingdao, and Guangzhou each handling between 13–30 million TEU.
• World Ranking: China has 8 ports in the global top 20, with 4 in the top 5; collectively, these ports account for over half of the world’s top 20 container traffic.
• Number of Berths: Major Chinese ports typically have 100–200+ berths each; total berths across all ports number in the thousands.
• Port Area: Leading ports cover areas ranging from 10 to over 100 square kilometers, depending on the port complex.
• Shipping Lines: All major global shipping lines operate extensive services to and from Chinese ports, including Maersk, MSC, COSCO, CMA CGM, and ONE.