Shanghai Port Tops 50M TEUs, Global Shipping Milestone

On December 22,Shanghai Ports annual container throughput exceeded 50 million TEUs,becoming the worlds first container terminal to achieve this milestone.According to on-site information,at 7: 30 a.m.that day,Shanghais Yangshan Deep-Water Port witnessed a busy scene with 14 large ocean-going container ships docked simultaneously,occupying all container terminal berths.The Yangshan Border Inspection Station revealed that the ports high operational status has become the norm since December,with frequent queues for vacant berths.Industry insiders expect this round of high-intensity operations to continue until the end of the year.

Data from the Yangshan Border Inspection Station shows that since December,the daily inspection of international vessels has reached 27,a 4.3% increase from the previous month.Affected by autumn typhoons and cold air,some vessels delayed from November were rescheduled to dock in December,jointly driving up the ports throughput.The rough seas and cold weather posed challenges but also highlighted the efficiency of Yangshan Ports coordination,customs clearance,and law enforcement.Wei Rongchun,deputy captain of the Yangshan Border Inspection Station,noted that the ports international shipping routes have increased to 106,up by 10 year-on-year,with an average daily docking volume exceeding 20 vessels.The port is expected to surpass 10,000 vessel inspections next week,setting a new record since its operation.

The increase in shipping routes has also led to a steady rise in transportation capacity and ship turnover.In 2024,there were nearly 350 international freight liner routes at Shanghai Port,covering more than 700 ports in over 200 countries and regions worldwide,an increase of over 30 routes compared to the previous year.According to statistics from Yangshan Border Inspection Station,in 2024,the total number of international vessels inspected for entry and exit (port) reached over 9,860,an increase of 5% year-on-year.Along with the intensive arrival of ships,the volume of crew change operations has also seen a significant increase.Since the beginning of the year,more than 12,700 Chinese and foreign crew members have completed the formalities of boarding and disembarking for crew change,an increase of over 3,100 people compared to last year,an increase of 32%,and has already exceeded the scale of crew change for the whole year in previous years.

In addition,the number of crew members boarding ships with electronic port visas has been steadily increasing.Benefiting from the latest visa policies,multinational crew allocation and maritime organizations have gained greater flexibility,serving as a crucial guarantee for shipping companies to enhance capacity and efficiency.Faced with continuously rising business demands,the Yangshan Border Inspection Station actively leverages "Internet+" tools,such as the Shanghai International Trade "Single Window" and the National Immigration Administration’s online portal for border inspection administrative permits,to promote pre-arrival inspection models.The station is committed to simplifying ship inspections and crew change procedures from "one-time processing" to "zero visits." Meanwhile,the station has intensified publicity for the 12367 immigration management service platform to improve service responsiveness for both domestic and international travelers as well as shipping companies.

To ensure port safety,the Yangshan Border Inspection Station has enhanced K-9 unit applications and maritime law enforcement collaboration,advancing the Two Regions,Six Parties policing integration between Shanghai and Shengsi for a more robust security system.For Shanghai Port,surpassing 50 million TEUs reflects its global shipping hub strength and upgraded management and services.Its prosperity signals global economic recovery and offers a management model for other international ports under high loads.