Shanghai Port hit a historic milestone as it successfully handled its 50 millionth twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) of this year at the Yangshan Phase IV Automated Terminal in the city's Lin-gang Special Area on Dec 22, setting a new world record in container throughput. This achievement marks a significant leap for the establishment of an international shipping center in the city.

The 50 millionth TEU handled at Shanghai Port. [Photo/WeChat ID: shanghaifabu]

Shanghai Port's annual container throughput has soared since its inception in 1978, with a mere 7,951 TEUs handled in the first year. Over the decades, the port has consistently broken records, surpassing the 1 million TEUs mark in 1994, entering the top 20 global container ports in 1995, and hitting the 10 million TEUs milestone in 2003. Subsequent milestones of 20 million, 30 million, and 40 million TEUs were achieved in 2006, 2011, and 2017, respectively.

In 2024, Shanghai Port has deepened cooperation with global shipping lines, optimized route layouts, and improved transit efficiency, with international transit business growing by over 20 percent to potentially exceed 7 million TEUs. It also strengthened ties with 22 ports along the Yangtze River, enhancing the synergy between the hub port and hinterland logistics resources.

A panoramic view of a container terminal of Shanghai Port. [Photo/WeChat ID: shanghaifabu]

Shanghai Port's connectivity, with nearly 350 international routes covering over 700 ports in more than 200 countries and regions, has ranked first globally for 13 consecutive years. The Yangshan Port area of Shanghai Port has topped the global Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) for two consecutive years. This record-breaking performance underscores Shanghai Port's status as a world-class shipping hub.