The Tianjin International Shipping Industry Expo 2023 was held from November 16 to 18 in Tianjin municipality to promote the development of the global shipping industry and marine economy. “As we delve into the future of shipping at this influential gathering, we also reflect on the impressive advancements that have positioned China at the forefront of the maritime world,” Jin Yu Cheong, head of the Baltic Exchange Asia, said via video link. The latest issue of the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index Report shows that the Asia-Pacific region’s shipping centers have continued to rise. Over the past 10 years, the centers of the international shipping industry have undergone significant changes, with goods, trade and capital gradually moving eastward, said Gen Hayao, President of Fenghai Technology Consulting Services. Chinese port cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Qingdao now rank among the top international shipping centers, contributing to the stability of the global supply chains, said the port construction expert.
Shanghai port has ranked first in container throughput for 13 consecutive years. By the end of 2022, the number of shipping routes passing through the Port of Ningbo Zhoushan reached 300, including 248 international routes. “In a rapidly evolving global trade landscape, China’s achievements in shipping are paving the way for the future,” said Jin. Speaking via video link at the expo, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said that in recent years, China has made solid strides in high-quality development of foreign trade, ranking first in global trade in goods for six consecutive years. The shipping industry has played an important role. China’s port cargo and container throughput have ranked first in the world for many consecutive years. In 2022, the cargo throughput of China’s ports reached 15.69 billion metric tons, and the container throughput was 296 million TEU. In addition to logistics and trade, China has carried out in-depth global cooperation across the whole shipping industry chain, including global ports cooperation, shipbuilding and ship leasing.
As one of the largest shipping enterprises in the world, China COSCO Shipping owns over 1,300 ships with a combined shipping capacity of 111 million DWT, ranking first in the world. The company’s global shipping routes cover more than 1,500 ports in 160 countries and regions, with an annual cargo volume of 1.3 billion tons. “We have made the port of Piraeus a leading container port in Europe. With the joint efforts of the COSCO Shipping management team, the company has made a significant contribution to the local economy, culture, society and finance of Greece,” said Yu Zenggang, Executive Chairman of COSCO Shipping (Piraeus) Ports, the China Daily reports.
