Historic treaty port on China's southern coast, gateway for commerce and emigration since 1860.


San T Ou, commonly known as Shantou, is a major port in Guangdong Province, China, located in the estuary of the Rongjiang River. It is the only major port in eastern Guangdong and serves as a gateway to the Shantou Special Economic Zone. Strategically important for regional trade, Shantou Port handled 1,250,000 TEU of containers in 2012. Its size and ranking make it a significant coastal port, with connections to numerous international ports. The port's annual capacity and strategic position underscore its importance in regional maritime trade.
Shantou Port, located in Guangdong Province, is a major natural river seaport and the primary maritime gateway for eastern Guangdong. Its key terminals include the Zhuchi (main container hub), Guang’ao (notable for recent expansion and international liner routes), Mashan, Haimen, and the historic Old Port Area. The port handles bulk cargo, containers, coal, and general goods across 28 operational berths, including 11 deep-water berths for vessels over 10,000 DWT. Equipment includes modern container cranes and efficient cargo handling systems, though specific details on AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) are not publicly highlighted in mainstream reports. Infrastructure supports rapid customs clearance and growing container throughput, with ongoing expansion to boost capacity and competitiveness.
San T Ou (Shantou) container terminals have 18 deep-water berths out of a total of 86 berths, with an annual container capacity of approximately 1.25 million TEU. The port features moderate automation, with ongoing modernization but not at the level of China’s largest automated ports. Major operators include Shantou Port Group, managing several terminals across eight port areas, with Zhuchi as the main container terminal.
Main services at San T Ou (Shantou), China:
San T Ou (Shantou) Port in Guangdong, China, is a major gateway for eastern Guangdong, serving the Shantou Special Economic Zone and surrounding regions. It connects to domestic ports across China and maintains regular international shipping routes to Southeast Asia and Taiwan. With expanding deep-water berths and rail links, Shantou supports container, bulk, and specialized cargo, enhancing access to global markets and integrating with major trade routes in the Asia-Pacific region.
San T Ou, China: Key Statistics
This port may not be a major hub or may be referred to under a different name in available maritime data.
Step-by-step process and transit times for international vessel berthing, customs clearance, transloading, and final delivery.
Import & export process times from vessel arrival to cargo delivery.
Port authority inspection and transloading procedures and timelines.
Performance benchmarks, cargo throughput KPIs and reporting cadences.
Confirm cutoffs early
Confirm vessel cutoffs, customs filing deadlines, and drayage windows before cargo reaches the terminal to avoid storage and rollover costs.
Track utilization trends
Review berth productivity, dwell times, and throughput trends alongside capex progress to separate structural bottlenecks from short-term volume swings.
Keep gate data aligned
Keep appointment systems, yard status, and documentation status aligned to reduce avoidable delays in handoff and cargo release.
Tools and resources for shipping through San T Ou, China.
Official statistics, research reports, and data tracking for San T Ou, China.
Search results for the official site and public reports for San T Ou, China.
UN trade and maritime transport reference reports.
Global logistics and trade performance reference.
Search results for throughput, connectivity, and container statistics.
Recent developments and updates for San T Ou, China.
Port guides and logistics resources for San T Ou, China.
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Common inquiries about operations and logistics at San T Ou, China.
Typical import flow is vessel arrival, berth assignment, discharge, customs review, terminal release, pickup or rail transfer, and final inland delivery. Timing depends on congestion, documentation, inspections, and local drayage capacity.
Export timing depends on gate cutoff windows, booking confirmation, documentation readiness, customs requirements, terminal operating hours, and vessel schedule reliability.
Key terms relevant to international seaport operations and ocean freight.