China ports hit record 310 million TEU on automation push in 2025

It now runs about 60 automated container terminals.

China's operators handled record container throughput of roughly 310 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in 2025, driven by accelerated investment in automation and low-carbon technology.

According to a Xinhua-Baltic report, the country now runs about 60 automated container terminals, more than any other nation.

Major facilities have deployed automated quay cranes, driverless container trucks and intelligent yard management systems, integrated with 5G, cloud computing and big data platforms to track vessel schedules and cargo flows in real time.

Shanghai's Yangshan Deep-Water Port, a $20b facility located roughly 30 kilometres offshore, topped the Global Port Performance Index for the third consecutive year, posting annual throughput of 28.7 million TEU.

The port combines deep-water berths capable of handling the largest modern container vessels with highly automated terminal operations.

Moreover, environmental upgrades have kept pace with efficiency gains, as more than 90% of specialised berths at major Chinese ports now have shore power access, allowing docked ships to draw electricity from the grid instead of running auxiliary engines.

Shanghai Port reached near-full shore-power coverage in 2025; between June and July alone, vessels drew 38.7 million kilowatt-hours from shore-power connections, cutting fuel use and emissions while berthed.

Meanwhile, Dalian Port expanded infrastructure for alternative fuels, including methanol and ammonia supply chains, while layering in 5G logistics systems, electrified equipment and smart energy management platforms.

The Ministry of Transport also launched the Initiative for International Cooperation on Green Shipping Corridors in 2025, targeting low-carbon trade routes.

A pilot corridor now links Qingdao Port with the Port of Hamburg, testing cleaner fuels and digital monitoring.

Additional corridors announced during the year connect Shanghai with Rotterdam and Hamburg, and Shenzhen's Yantian Port with Antwerp-Bruges, with a focus largely on container and ro-ro traffic carrying vehicles, machinery, and manufactured goods.

These projects tie into China's Belt and Road Initiative, which continued substantial investment in port and maritime infrastructure through 2025.

Authorities have signalled that smart, green port development will be a priority in the 15th Five-Year Plan covering 2026-2030, positioning digitalisation and emissions reduction as central pillars of the country's next maritime development phase.