December 25, 2024 – Source: China Shipping News

On December 20, Guangzhou Port’s Nansha Terminal reached a significant milestone, with its container throughput surpassing 20 million TEUs. This event was marked by the signing of a deepened cooperation agreement at the Guangzhou Nansha International Conference Center. Notably, the foreign trade container throughput at Nansha also exceeded 10 million TEUs for the first time, accounting for 50% of the terminal’s total throughput, securing its position as a leading global port.

Since the completion of Phase I of Nansha Terminal in September 2004, the port has experienced rapid development, reaching a container throughput of over 1 million TEUs in its first year of operation. Since then, the terminal has consistently increased its throughput by 1 million TEUs annually. With the milestone of 20 million TEUs achieved this year, Nansha Port has solidified its status as one of the top 10 ports globally in terms of throughput, becoming a key transit hub for energy, raw materials, and foreign trade goods in South China and the Pan-Pearl River Delta.

Over the past 20 years since Nansha’s establishment, the port has handled more than 230 million TEUs in total. Guangzhou Port, as a major international container hub and the largest domestic trade container hub in China, continues to strengthen its position as a global port. The port’s capacity and role in serving national strategies and regional economic development have grown significantly.

The importance of a port is often measured by its throughput, and the strength of a port is closely tied to its container handling capacity. Guangzhou Port has long been the number one domestic container hub in China, handling over 14 million TEUs in domestic trade annually. The Guangzhou Port Group actively aligns itself with national strategies, contributing to the high standards set for Nansha’s development. The phased construction of Nansha Port, from its first phase in 2004 to the third phase completed in 2017, has significantly enhanced its capacity. In November this year, Nansha’s Phase IV fully automated terminal passed construction acceptance, and major projects such as the Nansha International General Terminal and Phase V are currently under development. These initiatives are expected to further scale up the port’s logistics infrastructure, making it more efficient, integrated, and intelligent, with world-leading liner service efficiency.

This year, Nansha Port’s foreign trade container throughput exceeded 10 million TEUs for the first time, with a year-on-year growth rate of over 13%. The foreign trade segment now accounts for 50% of Nansha’s total container throughput, a rare achievement among global ports.

In an era where 90% of global international cargo is transported via ports, Nansha Port’s dual focus on domestic and foreign trade positions it as a comprehensive gateway hub, benefiting from both domestic and international markets. This development supports China’s dual circulation strategy, strengthening Guangdong Province’s strategic position in the evolving global economy.

Nansha District Governor Wu Yang highlighted that Nansha, built by and for the sea, has leveraged its strategic location in the heart of the Greater Bay Area, driving growth through cooperation with Hong Kong and Macau and global connections. Nansha is set to enhance its port and shipping service system, further strengthening its role as an international shipping trade hub. The district is also focusing on emerging areas like offshore trade, digital trade, and cross-border e-commerce.

Guangzhou Port Group Chairman Huang Bo emphasized that the group will continue to deepen cooperation across logistics chains, industrial chains, and value chains. With ongoing projects like the Northern and Southern Logistics Passage and the New International Land-Sea Corridor, Guangzhou Port will further its role as a key supporter of the region’s economic development.

Historically, Guangzhou Port was one of the starting points of the Maritime Silk Road over 1,000 years ago. Today, Nansha has become a critical junction in the Belt and Road initiative, connecting land and sea.

This year, Nansha opened eight new international container liner routes, and now boasts over 400 ports in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. Large domestic trade shipping companies have also launched services connecting coastal ports across China, cementing Nansha’s status as a major hub for both domestic and international trade in South China.

Nansha’s success is underscored by its extensive international and domestic service networks. The port now operates 200 container liner routes, with 165 international routes covering Europe, America, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Nearly 150 routes connect Belt and Road countries, and almost 100 routes serve RCEP nations. In addition, 35 domestic trade routes link southern China’s ports, facilitating seamless connections between domestic and international trade.

On December 13, Nansha received its first batch of imported Chilean cherries for the year, which were swiftly distributed to the South China market. Nansha’s strategic focus on South American trade routes, including the development of specialized fruit shipping lanes, has made it one of the largest fruit import hubs in China, particularly for cherries and durian.

The port’s success has attracted over 100 logistics clients to set up operations in Nansha, including major shipping companies like COSCO Shipping Bulk, COSCO Shipping Lines, Zhonglian Shipping, and Guangzhou Yanhai Auto Shipping, as well as top freight forwarders and cross-border e-commerce logistics companies. Nansha’s logistics infrastructure has greatly supported the city’s transformation into an international trade, logistics, and financial hub.

With its central location in the Pearl River Delta, Nansha Port is a key player in the region’s economic development. The port has 20 large deep-water container berths and over 7,000 meters of deep-water quay, making it one of the world’s leading container terminals in terms of overall capacity and scale. Its annual throughput capacity has reached 24 million TEUs.

Today, Nansha is well-connected to over 400 ports in more than 100 countries and regions, efficiently facilitating both domestic and international trade. Its high-quality logistics services continue to drive China’s growth, stabilizing foreign trade, and supporting the nation’s economic expansion.

As Nansha Port’s foreign trade liner network grows, more enterprises in the Pan-Pearl River Delta are choosing to do business at Nansha, taking advantage of the port’s logistics cost and business environment advantages.

“South China’s only deep-water port, Nansha offers unparalleled advantages,” said Yao Youjun, CEO of Guangdong Aoma Refrigerator Co. “Its strategic location allows us to directly access large vessels, reducing logistics costs and shortening transit times.”

Midea International Logistics also highlighted the port’s role in supporting the company’s import-export business. Nansha’s efficient services have been crucial in supporting Midea’s operations and streamlining the export process.

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