Hold onto your sailor hats! 🌊🚢 China’s maritime fleet has surged to 430 million deadweight tonnes as of September, claiming nearly 19% of global shipping capacity. The numbers dropped anchor at a Shanghai press conference ahead of the 2024 North Bund Forum, revealing how the country is reshaping global trade lanes.
Cargo Boom & Smart Ports
From January to August, China’s ports handled 11.5 billion tonnes of cargo (+3.7% YoY) and 220 million TEU containers (+8.2% YoY). Rail-water intermodal transport – think trains meeting ships 🚂↔️🚢 – jumped 17.7% to 7.78 million TEUs. “China now leads globally with 49 automated port terminals,” said Gao Haiyun of the Ministry of Transport’s water transport bureau.
Shanghai: The Mega-Hub
Shanghai’s port flexed its muscles with 39+ million TEUs processed in Q1-Q3 2024 (+8% YoY), cementing its role as an international shipping powerhouse. The city is gearing up to host the North Bund Forum (Oct. 22-24), where leaders will tackle green tech, AI, and digital upgrades for global shipping. 🌱💻
What’s Next?
The forum, co-hosted by China’s transport authorities and Shanghai, aims to steer the industry toward sustainability and smart logistics. With stats like these, all eyes are on how China’s ‘blue economy’ will navigate the future of trade!
