Ningbo's expanded port network strengthens China's maritime gateway

Chuanshan Port Area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. [Photo/Yongpai App]

Ningbo marked a major milestone as the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port's Chuanshan, Xiangshan, and Shipu port areas passed national inspection for expanded opening on Dec 9.

This was the city's first national-level acceptance since 2018, completing the goals set out in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for port development and strengthening Ningbo's role as a key land-sea transport hub in China.

The inspection covered nine berths, adding 58.13 square kilometers of open port area and 1,894 meters of shoreline. The expansion increases Ningbo's designed annual handling capacity by 620,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and 3 million metric tons of cargo, significantly elevating its port capabilities.

Chuanshan Port Area, the core container hub of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, stood out. Already capable of handling the world's largest container ships and surpassing 10 million TEUs annually for eight consecutive years, it now has 11 berths fully connected, with a continuous 3,740-meter shoreline.

The opening of Xiangshan Port Area’s first port of entry was the highlight. Together with Shipu, Xiangshan added 57.83 sq km of opening area, 1,564 meters of shoreline, and eight berths, filling a critical gap in the southern wing of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and energizing the city's marine economy demonstration zone.

In addition to containers, the new facilities include shipyards, general cargo berths, and specialized projects such as Ningbo's only live fish export port. These additions support industries from shipbuilding to cold-chain logistics, delivering local benefits while advancing regional and national cooperation.

King crabs are unloaded at the Xin'gang terminal of Shipu Port Area. [Photo/Yongpai App]