On the morning of July 11, the latest *Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index Report (2025)* revealed that in the global ranking of international shipping hubs, “Ningbo-Zhoushan” has once again advanced by one position, historically breaking into the top seven globally. This marks the fourth upward move in five years, showcasing its robust comprehensive strength and upward momentum.
Advancing steadily, step by step. In 2015, Ningbo-Zhoushan International Shipping Centre was ranked 23rd. After a challenging climb, it first entered the global top ten in 2021. Since then, it has continued its ascent, moving up one spot each year in 2023, 2024, and 2025, achieving a remarkable “four-level leap in five years.” This sustained and stable rise is particularly noteworthy in the competitive landscape of global port cities.
The milestone of entering the top seven is a significant interim achievement for Zhejiang Province in its long-term pursuit of “building a world-class strong port and the province with the best port business environment in China.” It also strongly reflects the notable results of Ningbo and Zhoushan in focusing on developing the shipping services industry. The Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Group and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Group, as driving forces, have played a pivotal supporting role in this progress.
The foundation for this “top seven” achievement lies first and foremost in the absolute hard strength of “port conditions.” Leveraging the globally leading cargo throughput and infrastructure advantages of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the “port conditions” indicator has consistently ranked first worldwide, providing the most solid and reliable guarantee for continuous advancement. In 2024, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port achieved a cargo throughput of 1.377 billion tons, a 4% year-on-year increase, maintaining its position as the global leader for 16 consecutive years. Container throughput reached 39.3 million TEUs, an 11% year-on-year increase, marking the highest growth rate in nearly seven years and securing the third spot globally. In the first half of this year, the port handled 21.048 million TEUs, a 9.8% year-on-year increase, demonstrating strong growth momentum.
Behind the rising production figures is the continuous strengthening of “hardcore” infrastructure. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port boasts the world’s first dual “10-million-TEU” single-container terminal, with three major billion-ton bulk cargo berth clusters for ore, oil and gas, and coal already established. Future growth engines are also being rapidly deployed. The navigation capacity enhancement project for the third 10-million-TEU container berth cluster—the Fodu Operation Area in Liuheng Port—commenced construction at the end of last year. The deep-water shoreline for its first phase was approved by the Ministry of Transport in May this year. Upon completion, it will add 950 meters of deep-water shoreline to Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.
The *Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index* includes three primary indicators—port conditions, shipping services, and comprehensive environment—and 16 secondary indicators, measuring the comprehensive strength of international shipping hubs across multiple dimensions. Thus, “hard strength” alone is not enough; the simultaneous leap in “soft services” is equally crucial. The two groups have focused on developing distinctive advantages such as water transport, ship fuel supply, ship trading, shipping information services, and international cooperation platforms, continuously enhancing the level and capability of shipping services.
Optimizing and strengthening shipping enterprises is a key part of improving the core competitiveness of shipping services. Ningbo Ocean Shipping, Zhejiang’s largest container liner company and the group’s self-operated fleet, ranks 24th globally in terms of capacity. In the first half of the year, it launched two new international container routes. Zhejiang Seaport Inland Shipping Company has set sail, operating over 150 inland vessels.
Providing precise services for international vessels. As a fuel supply enterprise covering major refueling ports in the Yangtze River Delta across port (customs) areas, the group’s fuel supply arm—Seaport International Trade—achieved LNG bunkering for 20 vessels in the first half of the year, with a volume exceeding 116,000 cubic meters, 24 times higher than the same period last year. It also completed the first EU carbon quota transaction by a Chinese port enterprise, helping Ningbo-Zhoushan Port become the world’s fourth-largest bunkering port and one of China’s top three LNG bunkering ports.
Vibrant ship trading platforms. The group’s Zhejiang Ship Auction Network strengthened regional and functional layouts, accelerated the establishment of its Singapore subsidiary, completed the setup of a Shanghai branch, and added new business models such as chartering brokerage and new shipbuilding brokerage. In the first half of the year, it achieved a ship trading volume of 5.24 billion yuan, a 29% year-on-year increase, setting a historical record. Auction turnover accounted for over 80% of the national market share in similar auctions.
Information empowering shipping development. Ningbo Shipping Exchange, the group’s public service platform and professional agency specializing in port logistics and international trade, continues to expand its international influence, regularly releasing the Maritime Silk Road Index across 10 international institutions. It operates the high-level Maritime Silk Road Shipping Big Data Center, with cumulative data exceeding 2 billion entries. It has deepened cooperation with the Shanghai Futures Exchange to jointly advance the development of container freight index futures products and initiated the construction of an index compilation platform.
The “Maritime Silk Road Forum” continues to amplify its golden reputation, elevating the profile of Ningbo-Zhoushan. Implementing the instructions of Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary Wang Hao that the “Maritime Silk Road Forum is a powerful tool for advancing opening-up and building a world-class strong port,” the group hosted the 2025 Maritime Silk Road Forum with high quality, attracting over 4,000 participants from 44 countries and regions and reaching a series of mutually beneficial consensuses and concrete collaborations. The “circle of friends” of Maritime Silk Road partner ports further expanded to 57 institutions across 35 countries and regions.
From 23rd to a historic top-seven global ranking, every upward move of Ningbo-Zhoushan International Shipping Centre reflects the determination and proactive practice of transforming Ningbo-Zhoushan Port from “large to strong” and enhancing port services by “addressing weaknesses and leveraging strengths.” Looking ahead, “Ningbo-Zhoushan” will seize the era’s opportunities of shifting global trade eastward and the accelerated restructuring of the global port and shipping landscape, showcasing its prowess on the international shipping hub stage and demonstrating greater responsibility in serving national strategies and global trade connectivity.
