China leads globally in automated port development

China leads globally in automated port development as it plans to improve designs and further accelerate intelligent transformation.

China has established 52 automated container and dry bulk terminals, leading globally in both the number of completed and ongoing automated terminal projects, as per the Ministry of Transport.

On Jan. 1, a fully automated container terminal at Qingdao Port in Shandong Province efficiently handled operations using bridge cranes, automated guided vehicles, and high-speed rail-mounted gantry cranes. A manager at Qingdao Port explained that the terminal, operational since 2015 and completed in three phases, has enhanced efficiency by 6 percent and increased throughput by 15 percent. The terminal set a world record for handling efficiency for the 12th time, with an average of 60.9 container units per hour per bridge crane.

At Yantai Port in Shandong, automation has boosted unloading and loading efficiency for bulk cargo by over 20 percent compared to traditional methods, showcasing significant operational advancements.

These Shandong ports exemplify China’s efforts to develop intelligent ports, focusing on automation. According to the Ministry of Transport, China has made significant strides in applying intelligent technologies and has established technical standards for automated container, coal, and ore terminals. Some of these technologies have also been adopted in ports worldwide.

China plans to improve top-level designs, standardize systems for intelligent ports, develop evaluation frameworks, and accelerate the intelligent transformation of traditional terminals. These efforts aim to enhance infrastructure and boost the resilience of port services.

China has achieved expertise in designing, constructing, manufacturing equipment, integrating systems, and managing operations for automated terminals. Between January and November 2024, Chinese ports handled 16.04 billion tonnes of cargo (a 3.4% year-on-year increase) and processed 300 million twenty-foot equivalent units (a 7.3% year-on-year increase).

The Ministry of Transport noted that Chinese ports have made significant progress in intelligent transformations, improving operational efficiency and service capacity. The country has built world-class port clusters in regions such as the Bohai Rim, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.