China holds eight of world's top 10 ports by cargo throughput

Beijing (ANTARA) - China holds eight of the ten largest ports in the world based on cargo throughput in 2025, a transport official stated on Tuesday (30/06).

Last year, cargo throughput in Chinese ports reached 18.3 billion tonnes, while container throughput was recorded at 354 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). Furthermore, China’s shipping fleet reached a capacity of 490 million deadweight tonnage (DWT), ranking first in the world, according to China’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Li Xinghu, during a press conference.

On average, ports in China handle more than 50 million tonnes of cargo and approximately 970,000 TEU of containers every day in 2025, with around 98,200 vessel arrivals and departures recorded daily, including 1,236 international vessel arrivals and departures, Li noted.

The volume of goods transported via China’s waterways reached nearly 15 trillion tonne-kilometres in 2025, accounting for more than half of the country’s comprehensive transport system.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China added 469 berths capable of serving vessels of 10,000 tonnes or more, bringing the total number of such berths to 3,061 units. The nation also added 2,500 kilometres of high-class waterways, bringing the total length to 18,500 kilometres.

Li stated that by 2025, China has operated 60 automated terminals across the country, including 30 automated container terminals.