Cars are loaded onto a COSCO Shipping vessel at the Shanghai Port. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]
Shanghai Port has become the world’s largest automotive shipping hub, handling 3.63 million vehicles in 2024, a 15 percent increase year-on-year, according to Shanghai Customs.
The achievement marks the first time the port has topped the global rankings. Notably, over 60 percent of the throughput involved foreign trade automobiles.
The port’s dominance is largely attributed to its strategic location, efficient operations, and supportive policies.
For example, the Haitong International Automobile Terminal in Waigaoqiao port, with a capacity of 40,000 vehicles, boasts direct connections to 289 ports in 131 countries and regions.
The terminal’s daily roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) operations handle over 7,000 vehicles, including a notable surge in new energy vehicle (NEV) exports.
Last year, 1.3 million cars were exported through Haotong Terminal, representing a 26.6 percent increase from the previous year.
Among these, 501,000 were NEVs, a significant year-on-year increase of 38.5 percent, accounting for 38.6 percent of total exports.
Similarly, Yangshan Nangang Port has emerged as another vital automotive import and export hub, serving as a launchpad for Chinese NEV manufacturers to expand their global reach.
The port features ro-ro routes connecting 36 countries and regions across Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.
In 2024, Yangshan Nangang Port shipped over 370,000 vehicles, a 26 percent increase year-on-year, with NEVs making up almost 70 percent of the total.
BYD, a leading NEV manufacturer, exported 34,000 vehicles through Yangshan Nangang Port last year, a remarkable 101 percent increase over the previous year.
Shanghai Customs has played a pivotal role in facilitating the port’s success by leveraging technology and regulatory innovation.
The customs authorities have actively promoted the digital transformation of the port by leveraging vehicle identification numbers (VINs) to streamline the entire customs clearance process.
The initiative connects various data nodes, including customs, terminals, and shipping companies, enabling efficient, contactless clearance for entire vehicles.
Additionally, the customs authorities have implemented new regulatory models, unlocking the potential of emerging business models like bonded vehicle transshipment.
The Yangshan Free Trade Zone has become a key highlight of Shanghai’s automotive import and export landscape.
This bonded transshipment operation has significantly benefited businesses by reducing costs and time.
For instance, Indian-manufactured Suzuki vehicles arriving at Yangshan Nangang port are temporarily stored in the adjacent Yangshan Free Trade Zone.
This allows for efficient consolidation and redistribution, reducing logistics costs by at least 12 percent and shortening transit times by over 25 percent.
Source: Shanghai Observer
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