Port operation maintains a good trend (entering the market to see confidence) year-on-year | throughput | maintains good performance

Since the beginning of this year, the throughput of multiple ports in China has shown a significant growth momentum, and the operation of ports has maintained a good trend, reflecting a new pulse in China's economic and trade development, and injecting confidence into achieving the annual economic and social development goals under complex circumstances.

According to data released by the Ministry of Transport, in the first half of the year, China's ports completed a cargo throughput of 8.19 billion tons, a year-on-year increase of 8%. Among them, the domestic trade throughput increased by 7.6% year-on-year, and the foreign trade throughput increased by 8.9% year-on-year. Completed a container throughput of 150 million TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 4.8%.

Smooth and orderly, stable and improving port operation

On the coast of the East China Sea, Ningbo Zhoushan Port, with the world's largest annual cargo throughput, is bustling with towering bridges and cranes.

At around 10am on July 3rd, after a journey of over 50 hours and nearly 2000 kilometers, the "Chongqing Ningbo Boutique Express" train loaded with 70 TEUs of motorcycles slowly entered the Beilun Port Station of the Ningbo Zhoushan Port Railway.

Accurate control, fast grasping, and tight loading and unloading... After the train stops, the on-site operators work intensively and work in one go. The goods are continuously transported to the designated storage yard, and after a short stop, they set sail from here, heading to North America, South Asia, and other regions.

The continuously improving transportation capacity, newly opened routes, and constantly breaking loading and unloading records confirm the stable and positive development trend of the port.

"In the first half of the year, port logistics remained smooth and orderly, with a gradual increase in container usage, releasing positive signals of a recovery in foreign trade." Ding Songping, Deputy General Manager of Ningbo Zhoushan Port Co., Ltd., introduced that in the first half of the year, Ningbo Zhoushan Port completed a cargo throughput of 679 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 6%; The container throughput reached 17.68 million TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 1.2%, achieving steady growth.

Along the Bohai Bay, Huanghua Port, an important hub for transporting coal from the west to the east and from the north to the south, is also operating busily. On the morning of June 28th, accompanied by the loud sound of the departure whistle, two container ships loaded with goods set sail at the container terminal of Huanghua Port Comprehensive Port Area. The "Huanghua Port Far East Russia" foreign trade container route and the "Huanghua Port Quanzhou Port, Xiamen Port" domestic trade container route were officially opened. From January to May, Huanghua Port's domestic coal export throughput reached 87.19 million tons, playing an important role in China's energy supply system.

The continuously enriched route resources provide strong support for the smooth operation of the industrial and supply chains. Data shows that in the first half of the year, Hebei Port Group completed a throughput of nearly 400 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 13.5%. By opening 3 foreign trade routes and 2 domestic trade routes, Huanghua Port Area achieved a year-on-year increase of 14.3% in throughput.

The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Transport stated that in recent years, the Ministry of Transport has actively guided and promoted the deepening integration of port resources. At present, 17 provinces have established provincial-level port groups, which have initially achieved intensive utilization of port resources, integrated operation, orderly competition, and efficient services. At the same time, we will strengthen the linkage between departments and provinces, work together to promote the coordinated development of port clusters in the Bohai Rim, Yangtze River Delta, and Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, and enhance the overall competitiveness of world-class port clusters.

Empowered by technology, accelerating the construction of smart ports

In early June, on the shore of the Qingdao Port Automation Terminal located in the West Coast New Area of Qingdao, a 10000 ton ship loaded with goods neatly docked at the berth, with dozens of bridge cranes constantly loading and unloading goods. In the nearby work area, automated loading and unloading vehicles for transporting containers come and go.

In May 2017, the fully automated container terminal of Qingdao Port was officially put into operation. In recent years, this intelligent automated dock has repeatedly refreshed its operational efficiency. Not long ago, the intelligent control system independently developed by the terminal allowed a single bridge crane to load and unload containers in the port day and night, exceeding 1100 TEUs and reaching 1192 TEUs, which is 19% higher than similar terminals worldwide, setting a new record.

The degree of intelligence has become an important indicator for measuring the competitiveness of ports. Major ports are seizing the opportunity for the development of the digital economy, actively promoting the construction of smart ports, and achieving intelligent development.

The 14th Five Year Plan for the Development of Modern Comprehensive Transportation System issued in December 2021 proposes that "we should adhere to innovation driven development, promote the deep integration of new technologies such as the Internet, big data, artificial intelligence and blockchain with the transportation industry, promote the application of advanced technology and equipment, and build a ubiquitous, flexible, collaborative and globally competitive intelligent transportation system".

In August 2021, the Ministry of Transport issued the Action Plan for the Construction of New Infrastructure in the Transportation Sector, proposing the construction of a smart logistics service platform for ports. Promote information interconnection and sharing between port operating units and relevant departments, enterprises, and social groups, promote logistics operation coordination, and improve logistics convenience and business efficiency.

"With the smart platform for customs clearance and port consolidation, booking vehicles has become more convenient." said Zhang Lei, the relevant person in charge of a logistics technology Co., Ltd. at the Tianjin Port Terminal. "Now, we input vehicle demand on the smart platform for customs clearance and port consolidation, and soon there will be a fleet to connect. Goods and transportation capacity can be matched in a timely manner, improving transportation efficiency."

In May, Tianjin issued the "Policy Measures for Promoting the High Quality Integration Development of Port Industry and City in Tianjin". Among them, promoting the application of smart platforms for port clearance and consolidation has been listed as an important measure to improve urban shipping service functions. As of June 25th, the Tianjin Guangang Collection and Distribution Smart Platform has certified 27000 drivers and 23000 vehicles, with a cumulative collection and distribution business volume exceeding 5 million TEUs, radiating to 29 provinces.

Taking multiple measures to assist foreign trade in promoting stability and improving quality

Starting from the port, connected to the world.

Busy ports with busy homework, boxes of frequently circulating goods, and a strong logistics network not only witness the stable growth of China's foreign trade volume, but also reflect the continuous improvement of quality.

According to customs statistics, the total import and export value of China in the first seven months of this year was 23.55 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 0.4%. Ports in various regions are accelerating their transformation and improving their efficiency, taking multiple measures to promote stable and high-quality foreign trade.

Anchor intelligent transformation and enhance development strength.

Entering berth 10 in Meishan Port Area of Ningbo Zhoushan Port, a new batch of remote automated gantry crane unloading work is being carried out intensively. At present, Meishan Port District has 108 automated gantry cranes, accounting for nearly 60%, and the scale of automation equipment ranks among the top in the country. "The scale of intelligent devices has laid a solid foundation for the efficient operation of the port area and helped to continuously break through container throughput," Ding Songping said.

State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Boosts the Promotion and Application of Intelligent Ship Port Shore Power Acceleration. Taking Yueqing Jinyang Port as an example, more than 70 types of loading and unloading and transportation equipment have all achieved green electricity consumption. Only the gantry crane at this port can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2167 tons per year.

Develop multimodal transportation to improve operational efficiency.

While accelerating the construction of key projects such as the water, rail, and container renovation in the Luojing Port area, Shanghai Port is vigorously developing multimodal transportation, promoting "public to rail, public to water" and "water to water transfer", striving to improve international transfer efficiency and quality, and promoting efficient connection between Shanghai Port and transportation modes such as river, rail, and public transportation. After upgrading and promoting the "public to water" product, the export volume of containers from Shanghai Port increased by nearly 40% year-on-year in the first half of the year.

According to statistics, the container rail water intermodal transportation volume increased by about 9.4% year-on-year in the first half of the year. By strengthening the port rail water intermodal transportation function, logistics costs have been effectively reduced and operational efficiency has been improved. Next, the Ministry of Transport will continue to work with relevant departments to fully leverage the comparative advantages and comprehensive transportation combination efficiency of waterway and railway transportation, accelerate the construction of collection and distribution port railways, improve the efficiency of rail water intermodal transportation services, and enhance the agglomeration and radiation capabilities of ports.

Build a service platform to improve service efficiency.

Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Transport has organized the implementation of the Port Service Capability Enhancement Project, continuously improving the quality of refrigerated container port and shipping services, accelerating the improvement of port operation efficiency, and establishing and improving a "one-stop" online business acceptance service platform. 11 coastal container hub seaports have basically established a "one-stop" online business acceptance service platform, and the proportion of online business acceptance orders has reached 86%, significantly improving service capabilities.

Experts say that as China's economy continues to improve and high-level opening-up continues to advance, the quality and efficiency of port operations will continue to improve, providing important guarantees for promoting foreign trade to achieve the goal of promoting stability and quality.