According to production data from Ningbo Zhoushan Port, as of 8:00 on November 24, the port’s sea-rail intermodal transport business volume for this year has reached 1.826 million TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 9%, exceeding the total volume of last year. This further solidifies its position as the nation’s top port for foreign trade container sea-rail intermodal transport.
This impressive report card stems from Ningbo Zhoushan Port’s continuous cultivation of its inland hinterland. Since the beginning of this year, the port has taken proactive measures to expand its inland hinterland and improve its collection and distribution system. It has newly opened 4 sea-rail intermodal transport routes and added 2 new scheduled train services. Currently, its sea-rail intermodal service network radiates to 69 prefecture-level cities across 16 provinces (autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government), with a cumulative total of 111 sea-rail intermodal routes and 40 inland dry ports established. Both the number of routes and network points rank first among national ports, constructing a “golden logistics channel” that reaches across the country.
Facing strong foreign trade demand from inland areas, Ningbo Zhoushan Port actively connects with export cargo sources and explores new growth. In collaboration with local governments and enterprises, it has tailor-made multiple customized enterprise train services for characteristic industries in places like Lishui Songyang and Yiwu. It has pressed the “accelerator button” for the development of sea-rail intermodal train services from Hefei Pihe and Wuhan to Ningbo Zhoushan Port, helping inland regions access the sea and develop an export-oriented economy.
Simultaneously, by “honing internal skills” to upgrade services and innovate models, Ningbo Zhoushan Port has injected a continuous stream of momentum into reducing costs and increasing efficiency for sea-rail intermodal transport. With strong support from multiple departments, the innovatively launched “Zhejiang e-Port Connect” model has effectively enhanced the convenience level for cargo import and export customs clearance, attracting more inland cargo to “move through Zhejiang ports” via sea-rail intermodal transport. This model has now covered 24 sites nationwide.
Ningbo Zhoushan Port has also deepened the “single-system” reform for sea-rail intermodal transport. Using the through transport bill of lading (CCA) as the carrier, it has partnered with 16 major shipping companies, including Maersk and COSCO Shipping, to extend service coverage to over 30 sea-rail intermodal routes.
Furthermore, by integrating railway, port, and shipping line resources, Ningbo Zhoushan Port has innovatively launched the “dual-fast” logistics model of “Sea-Rail Express + Sea Shipping Express,” opened dual-train services, domestic “door-to-door” dedicated trains, etc., further optimizing the regional logistics network and providing foreign trade enterprises with more cost-effective and efficient logistics solutions.
A solid hardware foundation is crucial support for sustained business growth. Ningbo Zhoushan Port focuses on container distribution guarantees and continuously optimizes the operational efficiency of railway port stations. Among them, the Railway Chuanshan Port Station and Beilun Port Station have continuously tapped potential and increased efficiency, actively coordinating the pickup and delivery of railway wagons and optimizing the /delivery operation modes, with business volumes repeatedly hitting new highs; the Railway Zhenhai Station has fully utilized its function as a backup yard, completing the first shipment of grain via “bulk-to-container” conversion in July this year, further broadening the categories of containerized cargo.
It is worth mentioning that the Yiwu (Suxi) International Hub Port, located within the “Sixth Port Area” of Ningbo Zhoushan Port, has fully leveraged its advantages as a smart logistics hub since commencing operations at the end of June this year, rapidly achieving scale operations. Its current daily business volume has reached 600 TEUs, and the /unloading operation time for a single train trip has been compressed to about 2 hours, becoming a “new engine” for the growth of Ningbo Zhoushan Port’s sea-rail intermodal transport business volume.
