It is also home to the world’s busiest and most connected port, which handles more than 47 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of cargo every year.
The port of Shanghai is a vital link in the global supply chain, facilitating trade and commerce between China and the rest of the world.
The port of Shanghai covers an area of over 3,500 square kilometers at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia. It consists of two main parts: a deep-sea port and a river port. The deep-sea port, also known as Yangshan Port, is located on reclaimed land in the East China Sea and is connected to the mainland by a 32-kilometer-long bridge. The river port, also known as Wusongkou Port, is located along the banks of the Huangpu River, which flows through the city of Shanghai.
The port of Shanghai has a total of 43 container terminals, 191 berths, and 156 container cranes. It can accommodate the largest container ships in the world, such as the Maersk Triple E class, which can carry up to 18,000 TEUs. The port also handles various types of cargo, such as bulk, liquid, break-bulk, and ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off).
One of the most remarkable features of the port of Shanghai is its automation technology, which streamlines operations and improves efficiency. The Yangshan Phase Four terminal, launched in 2017, is the world’s largest automated container terminal, with a capacity of 6.3 million TEUs. It uses 21 quay cranes, 108 rail-mounted gantry cranes, and 125 automated guided vehicles to load and unload containers without human intervention.
The port of Shanghai has a high degree of connectivity with other ports around the world. According to the United Nations Port Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, which measures how well ports are connected to global shipping networks, Shanghai ranks first among all ports in the world.
Shanghai’s largest export destination as of July 2022 was the United States, followed by Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Germany. The largest importers include Japan, the United States, Germany, Taiwan, and South Korea. The port also has close trade ties with other regions in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
Despite its impressive achievements, the port of Shanghai also faces some challenges in its operations. One of them is the impact of COVID-19 on global trade and logistics. Since March 2022, Shanghai has been under lockdown due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. This has affected the port’s capacity and throughput, as well as its staff and workers.
To prevent disruptions to global exports, the port has implemented some measures to isolate the shipment of international goods from domestic goods. For example, it has designated separate areas for loading and unloading containers from overseas and domestic sources. It has also increased its testing and vaccination rates for its staff and workers.
Another challenge for the port of Shanghai is the competition from other ports in China and abroad. China has seven of the top 10 ports by TEU volume globally, such as Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Qingdao, and Hong Kong. These ports are also expanding their capacity and improving their infrastructure to attract more cargo and customers.
Moreover, some ports outside China are also emerging as strong contenders for global trade. For example, Rotterdam in the Netherlands is the largest port in Europe and has a large petrochemical cluster and a renewable energy sector. Singapore is the largest transshipment hub in the world and handles about one-fifth of the world’s container transshipment traffic.
The port of Shanghai has ambitious plans for its future development and growth. It aims to increase its annual throughput to 50 million TEUs by 2025 and to maintain its leading position in global trade and logistics. It also plans to further enhance its automation technology and digitalization to improve its efficiency and sustainability.
The port of Shanghai also intends to diversify its business portfolio and explore new opportunities in emerging markets and sectors. For example, it plans to develop its cruise terminal and marina to attract more tourists and visitors. It also plans to expand its cooperation with other ports along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is China’s ambitious project to connect Asia with Europe and Africa through infrastructure and trade.
The port of Shanghai is not only a key asset for China’s economy but also a vital link for global trade and commerce. It is a testament to China’s rapid development and innovation in the past decades. It is also a showcase of China’s vision and ambition for the future.
sources:
2022 Global Seaport Review: Shanghai, China | CBRE
Shanghai Port Strives to Keep Global Trade Moving Despite Covid
Shanghai port operations | Asian Development Blog
Shanghai: world’s biggest port is returning to normal, but supply chains will get worse before they get better
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