Nanjing, China
Nanjing: Historic Yangtze River capital, pivotal in China’s dynastic, cultural, and maritime legacy.
Port Overview
Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu Province in eastern China, located on the southern bank of the lower Yangtze River, about 300 km west of Shanghai. Covering around 6,600 square kilometers, it is the second-largest city in East China after Shanghai. Nanjing holds strategic importance as a major commercial, industrial, and educational hub, and is home to the world’s largest inland port. The port of Nanjing handles over 8 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually, making it a key node in China’s river and maritime logistics network.
Facilities & Infrastructure
Nanjing Port, the world’s largest inland port, features key terminals such as Longtan and Jiangbei Container Terminals. Major cargo facilities handle containers, general cargo, bulk, and liquid products. The port is equipped with modern shore cranes (up to 40 tons), mobile and floating cranes, and container handling equipment. Advanced logistics zones and container yards support efficient operations, and some terminals utilize automated guided vehicles (AGVs) for container transport.
Container Terminals
Nanjing’s container terminals feature around 23 berths, with Longtan Container Terminal being the main facility. The port’s annual container throughput is approximately 11.2 million TEUs. Automation is moderate, with ongoing upgrades but not fully automated operations. Major operators include state-owned enterprises and local port authorities, with Longtan Terminal as the central hub for container handling. The port supports both domestic and international trade, connecting to major global markets.
Port Services
Main Services at Nanjing Port
- Container Handling: Comprehensive container terminal operations, including loading, unloading, and transshipment for domestic and international trade.
- Cargo Operations: Bulk, liquid, and general cargo handling across multiple specialized terminals, with direct rail, road, and waterway connections.
- Ship Services: Berthing, bunkering, husbandry, and technical support for a wide range of vessel types, including large foreign ships.
- Warehousing: Extensive storage facilities, including liquid chemical tanks and dry cargo warehouses, supporting logistics and distribution.
- Customs: Full-service customs clearance and inspection, facilitating efficient import/export processes and compliance with international trade regulations.
Global Connectivity
Nanjing, situated on the Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province, is the world’s largest inland port and a critical logistics hub for central and eastern China. It handles containers, bulk, breakbulk, and liquid cargo, serving both domestic river routes and international markets via feeder connections to major global ports. Nanjing is well integrated with national road, rail, and pipeline networks, linking it efficiently to the Beijing–Shanghai and Shanghai–Wuhan–Chengdu corridors. Key shipping routes connect Nanjing to major Asian markets, with transshipment through Shanghai and other Yangtze Delta ports facilitating access to global trade lanes.
Port Statistics
Nanjing Port handled 3.71 million TEUs in 2024, ranking 56th globally. The port operates 245 berths and covers a planned area supporting a throughput capacity of 385 million tonnes. It offers 15 international shipping lines, including recent additions to South America and the Far East. As the world’s largest inland port, Nanjing serves as a major transshipment hub on the Yangtze River, with advanced intermodal rail-waterway facilities.
