Introduction
Maritime shipping drives global trade, handling 80% of world commerce. China’s ports have emerged as global leaders, with eight of the world’s top 10 ports located in China.
As the world’s largest manufacturing hub, China exports goods globally through its extensive port network. With 18,400 km of coastline and over 150 ports, we focus on the top 12 strategic ports below.
Key Insights:
- Southern ports generally offer lower costs than northern counterparts
- Larger ports typically provide greater cost efficiencies
- Ports grouped by geographic region: North China and South China
North China Ports
Serving industrial hubs like Tianjin, Liaoning, Hebei, and Shandong:
1. Port of Dalian
- Location: Southern tip of Liaodong Peninsula
- Features: Ice-free deep-water port (346 km² water area)
- Capacity: 16 million TEU | 451 million tons cargo (2017)
- Specialization: Crude oil, refined oil, liquid chemicals
- Global Reach: 300+ ports across 160+ countries
2. Port of Tianjin
- Status: North China’s largest port | Top 10 globally
- Throughput: 10+ million TEU (2021) | 4.627 million TEU (Q1 2022, +3.5% YoY)
- Strategic Position: Gateway to Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region | Eurasian trade corridor node
- Ice Conditions: Maximum freeze: mid-Jan to mid-Feb (doesn’t disrupt operations)
3. Port of Yantai
- Position: 25 key national hub ports | New Eurasian Land Bridge node
- Layout: Five-zone system (Zhifu Bay, West Port, Penglai, Longkou, Shouguang)
- Multimodal Transport: Integrated rail-highway-water-pipeline network
- Target: World’s top 10 coastal ports by 2025
4. Port of Qingdao
- Global Rank: #6 worldwide (2018: 1.154 million TEU)
- 2019 Throughput: 515 million tons cargo | 21.01 million TEU
- Efficiency Leader: #1 globally for container & bulk handling speed
- Special Zones: Autonomous operation in four specialized zones
5. Port of Rizhao
- Status: Major ice-free deep-water port
- 2018 Performance: 194 million tons (H1) | Top 10 China ports
- Layout: Five zones with 28 productive berths
- Cargo Specialization: Iron ore, oil, coal, grain (bulk focus)
6. Port of Lianyungang
- Strategic Value: New Silk Road eastern terminus | Central/Western China’s most economical port
- 2019 Throughput: 244 million tons | 4.78 million TEU
- Connectivity: 500nm from major Korean/Japanese ports
South China Ports
Primary gateways for Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions:
1. Port of Shanghai
- Global Rank: World’s busiest container port (12 consecutive years)
- Throughput: 37.13 million TEU (2016) | 702 million tons cargo
- Connectivity: 500+ ports in 200+ countries | 80+ int’l routes
- Infrastructure: 3,620 km² water area | 4 specialized zones
2. Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan
- Global Leader: #1 cargo throughput globally (13 years)
- 2021 Performance: 1.224 billion tons (+4.4%) | 31.08 million TEU (+8.2%)
- Advantages: >350 operational days/year | 18.2m deep channels
- Specialization: Super-large vessels (50,000-250,000 tons)
3. Port of Xiamen
- Position: 21st Century Maritime Silk Road node | World’s #14 port
- 2021 Throughput: 227.5 million tons | 12.05 million TEU
- Routes: 157 container lines (99 international)
- Berths: 176 productive berths (78 for 10,000+ ton vessels)
Major Pearl River Delta Ports
Serving Guangdong, Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi:
4. Port of Guangzhou
- Historical Significance: 1,000+ years of trade history
- 2020 Throughput: 636 million tons (#4 worldwide)
- Global Links: 400+ ports in 100+ countries
- Comprehensive Handling: Containers, vehicles, bulk commodities
5. Port of Shenzhen
- Global Standing: Top 4 container port (26.55 million TEU in 2020)
- Mega-Vessel Capability: Handles 80% of 10,000+ TEU ships globally
- Network: 200+ int’l routes to 300+ global ports
6. Port of Hong Kong
- Special Status: Free trade port (zero tariffs on most goods)
- Efficiency: World’s busiest container port (historical)
- Capacity: 500 weekly container services | 1,000+ global ports connected
- Infrastructure: Victoria Port Zone (10m+ depth) handles largest vessels
Conclusion
China’s strategic port network forms the backbone of global trade. Southern ports lead in container volume while northern ports specialize in bulk commodities. Understanding regional specializations and infrastructure capabilities enables optimized shipping decisions.
Note: Throughput data subject to annual updates. Verify latest statistics with port authorities.