An empty container transportation center began operations at the Shanghai port on Saturday, with the aim to further strengthen the world’s largest container port’s handling capability, boost domestic and foreign trade, and solidify Shanghai’s status as an international shipping center
Located in the Yangshan Special Comprehensive Bonded Zone, the center is key to the port’s capability to allocate resources across the world, according to Gu Jinshan, chairman of Shanghai International Port Group, the sole operator of the public terminals at the Shanghai port.
“The new center will help us to apply digitalized and intelligent management to promote communications between ports and shipping enterprises, so as to provide empty container services for shipping operators as well as customers in Northeast Asia, along the Yangtze River Delta region, and areas along the Yangtze River,” said Gu.
SIPG is confident that by enhancing service while lowering logistics costs, it can develop the center into a benchmark at the Yangshan Special Comprehensive Bonded Zone, Gu said.
While striving to prevent and contain COVID-19, the Shanghai port saw container throughput grow from January to August, which allowed the core functions of the Shanghai international shipping center to operate normally and contributed to the stability of global supply chains, according to sources.
Jointly developed by SIPG and the shipping lines of Maersk, CMA CGM, MSC and Evergreen, the center’s construction began in August 2021 to solve seasonal container shortages caused by imbalances in trade.
After more than a year of construction and preparations, the center is now ready to serve its customers.
The empty container transportation center for Northeast Asia will consolidate the Shanghai port’s status as the top global container port with more diversified shipping services.
The Shanghai port has been rated the world’s largest container port for 12 consecutive years, and its container throughput volume exceeded 47 million TEUs in 2021.
