Shanghai Port becomes world's first port to cross 50m TEUs mark

After handling the 50 millionth twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) in 2024 on December 22, Shanghai Port officially becomes the world's first port to cross the 50 million TEUs mark in annual container throughput. （Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn）

After handling the 50 millionth twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) in 2024 on Sunday morning, Shanghai Port officially became the world's first port to cross the 50 million TEUs mark in annual container throughput, cementing its position as the world's busiest container port for 15 consecutive years, according to the port operator Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd.

Starting container transportation in 1978, Shanghai Port has in the past few decades undergone rapid growth and expansion, witnessing the rise of Shanghai's position as a world-class shipping hub. The port has ranked first for 14 years in a row in terms of annual container throughput since 2010.

Currently, the port of Shanghai operates nearly 350 international shipping routes, connecting more than 700 ports in more than 200 countries and regions worldwide.

Having constantly improved its functionality and high-quality services, the port makes the strength serves as a strong driver for growing container throughput. "The proportion of ship-to-ship transferred at the port is expected to reach a record of 60 percent in 2024," said Yang Yanbin, deputy general manager of the production and business department of the Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd.

Shanghai was rated third among international shipping centers, only after Singapore and London, according to the 2024 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index published earlier in August.

As an international shipping center, Shanghai has withstood the global economic uncertainties and complicated international trade environment. Shanghai's performance in 2023 showcased its strong resilience and adaptability, and the port of Shanghai became the prime choice of gateway for many export-oriented enterprises, the report said.

In 2017, Shanghai Port not only reached the historical 40 million TEUs mark in container throughput, but also launched the operation of its automated terminal, or the fourth phase of the Yangshan Port project. The terminal has handled a combined container throughput of more than 35 million TEUs in the past seven years. In comparison with conventional terminals, the automated terminal saves 70 percent workers while raising efficiency by 30 percent.

It is worth mentioning that the automatic port intellectual production management control system, or TOS system, is performing as the brain of the port. The system was researched and developed independently by the Shanghai International Port (Group). At present, the automatic ports' technologies have been applied in 14 terminals home and abroad.