According to China Daily, February 12, 2026
Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, in China’s eastern Zhejiang province, kicked off 2026 with major upgrades that reinforce its position as a cornerstone of global trade. As the world’s busiest port by cargo tonnage, the port is improving infrastructure and expanding international shipping connections to support faster, more efficient global logistics.
In 2025, the port handled more than 1.4 billion metric tons of cargo, marking the 17th consecutive year it ranked first globally. This growth was fueled by strategic deep-water channel expansions and efficiency upgrades at terminals, allowing the port to accommodate the shipping industry’s trend toward mega-vessels.
A key development was the Tiaozhoumen Channel expansion, which now allows 300,000-ton oil tankers to navigate at high tide and 200,000-ton container ships at all times. Previously, ships relied primarily on the Xiazhiman Channel, which was nearing saturation. The dual-channel capability significantly reduces waiting times for vessels and increases throughput capacity.
Smart technology is also playing a central role. At the Meishan Port Area, unmanned container trucks and remotely operated bridge cranes work alongside traditional operations, creating a seamless, high-efficiency workflow. Integrated 5G, Beidou satellite positioning, and vehicle-road coordination technologies have made remote crane operations comparable in efficiency to manual handling, with 24-hour peak throughput reaching 45,200 TEUs—enough to stack containers to the height of 13 Mount Everests.
Global connectivity is expanding as well. A newly launched direct shipping route links Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shanghai, and Qingdao with Brisbane and Sydney, providing Chinese exporters with faster, more flexible access to the Australian market. Overall, the port now connects to over 700 ports in more than 200 countries, with a total of 309 international routes, up from 289 in 2021.
According to port officials, these upgrades enhance both hard infrastructure and operational intelligence, ensuring Chinese goods can reach global markets more efficiently despite international uncertainties. For multinational corporations, logistics-heavy sectors, and international investors, Ningbo-Zhoushan’s improvements signal reliable, scalable, and technology-enabled trade channels capable of supporting long-term global commerce.