China continues to dominate global maritime trade, with its top five container ports accounting for approximately 40% of the world’s total container throughput. In 2024, these ports demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth, collectively handling over 181 million TEUs amid recovering global demand. Shanghai Port made history by becoming the first port worldwide to exceed 50 million TEUs in a single year.
The five major ports, ranked by 2024 container throughput (TEUs – Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), remain:
- Shanghai Port
- Ningbo-Zhoushan Port
- Shenzhen Port
- Qingdao Port
- Guangzhou Port
Below is a detailed overview of each port, followed by a comparative table and insights into their primary hinterland markets.
1. Shanghai Port (Yangshan and Waigaoqiao terminals)
Location: Yangtze River Delta, Shanghai Municipality
2024 Throughput: 51.51 million TEUs (world #1 – first port ever to exceed 50 million TEUs)
Key Features: World’s busiest container port since 2010, deepest berths up to 17 m at Yangshan Phase IV, highest level of automation globally, outstanding river barge and rail connectivity via the Yangtze system.
Primary Domestic Markets Served:
– Yangtze River Delta core (Jiangsu, Zhejiang north, Anhui)
– High-tech and consumer electronics clusters in Shanghai-Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou
– Substantial inland volumes from Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing via Yangtze barges
2. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port
Location: Zhejiang Province (integrated Ningbo and Zhoushan deep-water facilities)
2024 Throughput: 39.31 million TEUs (world #3)
Key Features: Natural deep-water channels exceeding 30 m, world’s largest ore and oil transfer terminals by tonnage, aggressive automation and smart-port development.
Primary Domestic Markets Served:
– Yiwu International Trade City (world’s largest small-commodity market – approximately 75–80% of Yiwu’s export containers move via Ningbo)
– Southern and central Zhejiang manufacturing zones (footwear, furniture, toys, textiles, hardware, Christmas decorations)
– Southern Jiangsu and parts of Anhui
3. Shenzhen Port (Yantian, Shekou, Dachan Bay and other terminals)
- Location: Pearl River Delta, Guangdong Province
- 2024 Throughput: 33.38 million TEUs (world #4)
- Key Features: Highest proportion of high-value electronics cargo, fastest vessel turnaround times among the fastest globally, seamless feeder links to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
- Primary Domestic Markets Served: – Core Pearl River Delta manufacturing (Dongguan, Shenzhen, Huizhou, Guangzhou east) – Global hub for smartphones, telecommunications equipment, computers, toys, apparel
4. Qingdao Port (Qianwan, Dongjiakou, Huangdao terminals)
- Location: Shandong Province, Yellow Sea coast
- 2024 Throughput: 30.87 million TEUs (world #5)
- Key Features: World’s most advanced fully automated container terminal (over 40 moves per crane hour achieved regularly), major reefer hub, excellent rail connectivity via Eurasian Land Bridge.
- Primary Domestic Markets Served: – Shandong Province (home appliances, tires, petrochemicals, agricultural products) – Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and northern China via high-speed rail/road – Increasing volumes from Henan, Shaanxi and central provinces
5. Guangzhou Port (Nansha dominates container traffic)
- Location: Pearl River Delta, Guangdong Province
- 2024 Throughput: 26.07 million TEUs (world #6)
- Key Features: Extensive Pearl River barge network reaching far inland, leading automobile Ro-Ro hub in China, strong trade lanes to Africa, South America and Middle East.
- Primary Domestic Markets Served: – Western Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan via barge/rail – Foshan and western PRD furniture, ceramics, building materials and light manufacturing clusters
Comparative Table – China’s Top 5 Container Ports (2024 Full-Year Data)
| Rank | Port | Location | 2024 Throughput (million TEUs) | Global Rank | Max Depth (m) | Primary Hinterland | Signature Cargoes / Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shanghai | Yangtze River Delta | 51.51 | 1 | 17 m | Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Yangtze inland | Electronics, machinery, e-commerce |
| 2 | Ningbo-Zhoushan | Zhejiang Province | 39.31 | 3 | >30 m | Yiwu & Zhejiang small commodities | General merchandise, textiles, furniture |
| 3 | Shenzhen | Pearl River Delta | 33.38 | 4 | 18 m | Dongguan, Shenzhen, Huizhou | Smartphones, telecom, high-value consumer goods |
| 4 | Qingdao | Shandong Province | 30.87 | 5 | 20 m | Shandong, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Henan | Appliances, reefer, tires, chemicals |
| 5 | Guangzhou (Nansha) | Western Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan | 26.07 | 6 | 17 m | Western Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan | Furniture, ceramics, vehicles, Africa routes |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why does most of Yiwu’s export volume go through Ningbo rather than the geographically closer Shanghai?
A: Dedicated consolidation networks, significantly lower total landed costs for small-commodity shippers, shorter trucking times from southern Zhejiang, and decades-long established forwarder relationships make Ningbo the dominant choice despite Shanghai being closer on a map.
Q2: Which port is best for time-sensitive, high-value electronics shipments?
A: Shenzhen (particularly Yantian) remains the clear leader due to proximity to assembly plants, highest frequency of direct calls to Europe and North America, and fastest average vessel turnaround times.
Q3: Has any port yet broken the 50-million-TEU barrier?
A: Yes. In December 2024, Shanghai Port became the first port in history to exceed 50 million TEUs in a calendar year, finishing 2024 with 51.51 million TEUs.
Q4: Which Chinese port has the highest level of automation?
A: Both Shanghai Yangshan Phase IV and Qingdao’s fully automated terminal are world leaders, routinely achieving crane rates above 40 natural moves per hour, with Qingdao often posting the single highest productivity records.
Q5: Will the top-five ranking change in the next few years?
A: The order has been remarkably stable for the past decade. While Tianjin and Xiamen continue to grow rapidly, none are projected to overtake Guangzhou for fifth place before 2028–2030 at current trajectories.
Sources & Further Reading
- Lloyd’s List One Hundred Container Ports 2025 → https://www.lloydslist.com/one-hundred-container-ports-2025
- Shanghai Port official announcement (50 million TEU milestone) → http://en.portshanghai.com.cn/LatestNews/4310.jhtml
- Ningbo-Zhoushan Port 2024 results → https://english.www.gov.cn/archive/statistics/202501/18/content_WS678b4771c6d0868f4e8eef3e.html
- Container News 2024 ranking summary → https://container-news.com/top-container-ports-key-rankings-and-insights/
- World Shipping Council Top 50 World Container Ports → https://www.worldshipping.org/top-50-container-ports