On July 31, the third plenary (expanded) meeting of the Suzhou Port Management Committee was held to summarize experiences, analyze the situation, and further clarify the development direction of Suzhou Port. Wu Qingwen, Deputy Secretary of the Suzhou Municipal Party Committee, Mayor, and Director of the Suzhou Port Management Committee, emphasized the need to consolidate consensus, focus on key tasks, and pool efforts to promote the transformation and upgrading of Suzhou Port with high standards, efficiency, and quality. The meeting reviewed and discussed the “Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Construction of International and Domestic Logistics Corridors and Promoting High-Quality Development of Suzhou Port (2025-2027).”
Over the past year, Suzhou Port achieved a container throughput of 10.026 million TEUs, becoming the first inland river port in China to exceed 10 million TEUs, ranking 8th nationally and 18th globally. Its cargo throughput reached 605 million tons, ranking 7th nationally and 8th globally. The port reduced logistics costs for enterprises by over 2 billion yuan annually. Its container shipping network now covers more than 120 ports in regions such as Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, North Africa, and South America, establishing a shipping and logistics system that spans east-west, connects rivers and seas, and integrates near and deep-sea routes with river-sea linkages. Specializing in seafood, timber, fruit, bulk commodities, vehicles, auto parts, grains, and pulp, Suzhou Port has solidified its position as the largest vehicle export port and grain import port on the Yangtze River, as well as the second-largest pulp import port in China, forming a sizable trade and logistics industrial cluster. The port successfully attracted landmark enterprises such as Yangtze River Waterway full-industry-chain resources, China Classification Society, COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers, Wang Da Crab, and Deliu Cold Chain, with over 200 companies settling in Suzhou. This has preliminarily established a virtuous cycle of “industrial ecological agglomeration—enterprise demand release—port service innovation.”
In the first half of this year, Suzhou Port achieved a container throughput of 5.28 million TEUs and a cargo throughput of 300 million tons, representing year-on-year growth of 4.8% and 4.1%, respectively, successfully meeting the “half-time, half-task” target.
Suzhou Port Development Goals
By 2025, Suzhou Port aims to maintain a container throughput of over 10 million TEUs and a cargo throughput of over 600 million tons. By the end of 2027, container throughput is expected to reach 12 million TEUs, cargo throughput 650 million tons, and the modern trade and logistics industry scale to exceed 300 billion yuan. By the end of 2030, with the completion and operation of the fifth phase of the Taicang Port Area container terminal, container throughput is projected to reach 14 million TEUs, cargo throughput 680 million tons, and the modern trade and logistics industry scale to surpass 400 billion yuan.
Suzhou Port Development Strategy
Strengthen the river-sea transshipment hub port to support the development of a container trunk port and premium deep-sea routes.
Advance the transformation from a logistics port to a trade port, injecting momentum into Suzhou’s manufacturing upgrade, service innovation, and foreign trade stability and quality improvement.
Aggregate resources to build a key northern wing of the Shanghai International Shipping Center, accelerating the layout of modern shipping services and enhancing urban shipping center functions.
Suzhou Port Key Development Measures
● Focus on Strategic Positioning: Strengthen the River-Sea Transshipment Hub Port
Implement the “Yangtze Strategy” and “Inland River Strategy” to accelerate the formation of a Yangtze River container shipping network centered on Suzhou Port. Expand the port’s hinterland to the Central Plains urban cluster, southwestern Shandong, and cities along the Western Land-Sea New Corridor. Consolidate and expand premium near-sea routes while exploring differentiated deep-sea routes tailored to Suzhou’s foreign trade needs. Establish a domestic trade network hub spanning north-south and east-west, striving to become a strategic pivot supporting the new dual-circulation development paradigm.
● Focus on Capacity Enhancement: Solidify the Foundation for High-Quality Port Development
Advance new projects such as the fifth phase of the container terminal, Liuhe Fishing Port Wharf, Yalu Wharf, and Middle East Transoceanic Wharf. Accelerate the renovation and expansion of Taicang International, Suzhou Modern, Huaneng Power Plant Wharf, Donghai Grains, and Xintai Port. Coordinate efforts to optimize the “deep water for deep use” of the Yangtze River waterway. Speed up the automation of facilities, intelligent management technologies, and informatization of management methods. Strictly enforce the “Suzhou Work Safety Regulations” and the “Six Modernizations” safety requirements to enhance intrinsic port safety. Implement the “Beautiful Suzhou Port 2035 Action Plan” to create the “Most Beautiful Port on the Yangtze.”
● Focus on Transformation Breakthroughs: Promote Integrated Port-Industry-City Development
Leverage the industrial characteristics of each port area to focus on seafood, timber, fruit, grains, pulp, vehicles, and auto parts, building trading and distribution centers. Strengthen the cluster effect of specialized import-export businesses, positioning Suzhou Port as a hub for “commerce flow, passenger flow, information flow, and capital flow,” transitioning from an “economic corridor” to a “corridor economy.”
● Focus on Supply Chain Enhancement: Build a Hub for Modern Port and Shipping Services
Concentrate on high-end shipping services such as financial leasing, supply chain finance, ship trading, and shipping insurance, encouraging local financial institutions to increase support for port and shipping logistics enterprises. Accelerate the agglomeration of third-party professional services like ship supply, repair, inspection, brokerage, and crew services to foster coordinated development of port and shipping services.
Mayor Wu Qingwen noted that Suzhou Port has entered a new phase of development, transitioning from “large to strong.” Efforts must focus on strengthening the river-sea transshipment hub, transforming from a logistics port to a trade port, and aggregating resources to become a key northern wing of the Shanghai International Shipping Center. All departments and units should innovate, benchmark against world-class ports, and deepen potential exploration and efficiency improvements to accelerate the “one port, four zones” construction and shift Suzhou Port from extensive to intensive development.
Mayor Wu Qingwen urged all departments and units to further refine and implement the three-year high-quality development plan for Suzhou Port. Aligning with the “first-class facilities, technology, management, and service” requirements, the port must prioritize service and safety, deepen the integration of port, logistics, shipping, trade, and finance, and accelerate transformation and upgrading to achieve higher-quality development.
Attendees included leaders from Suzhou Port Management Committee member units, the committee office, the Municipal Financial Office, the Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, state-owned financial enterprises, Suzhou Industrial Park Customs, and port authorities from Zhangjiagang, Changshu, and Taicang (Customs, Maritime Safety, Border Inspection, Pilotage, Changjiang Public Security, and Waterway). Representatives from Zhangjiagang Port Area, Changshu Port Area management offices, and Jiangsu Port Container Group also attended. On-site presentations were delivered by the Suzhou Transportation Bureau, Port and Shipping Group, Taicang Municipal Government, Taicang Customs, and Jiangsu Port Container Group, while written exchanges were submitted by Zhangjiagang Municipal Government, Changshu Municipal Government, Zhangjiagang Pilot Station, and Changshu Maritime Safety Administration.
