Part III Development: Coastal ports accelerate digital transformation in 2025; cross-border e-commerce and multimodal transport boost growth

In 2025, China's ports continued to advance intelligent transformation, with accelerated construction of automated terminals. The number of completed or under-construction automated terminals remains the top of global rankings, while the application of informatization and automation technologies in port operations deepened further.

Accelerating automation and intelligent construction represents a key trend in the high-quality development of ports. For instance, under traditional operations, a skilled truck driver could handle several hundred tons of cargo daily at most. In contrast, following the advancement of smart port initiatives, a team of around ten staff members can simultaneously operate dozens of mechanical equipment units, resulting in significantly enhanced operational efficiency.

For example, Tianjin Port has deeply fused 5G, the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, AI, and other technologies into production, enhancing synergy among "people, machines, vehicles, ships, cargo, and yards." Over 80 percent of its large container handling equipment is automated. The port invests over 300 million yuan annually in R&D, holding more than 900 effective patents.

Meanwhile, Rizhao Port also expanded automated operations, launching 12 domestically made lightweight rail cranes in 2025 to create "unmanned + visualized" operations. Overall efficiency of its automated container terminal rose 9.5 percent year-on-year.

Zheng Ping noted that China's ports have markedly improved service capabilities and infrastructure, with digital and smart achievements leading globally. Applications of 5G, big data, cloud computing, AI, and blockchain have revitalized traditional ports.

In 2025, new businesses and new models drove throughput growth at some ports. Interviewed ports noted that cross-border e-commerce spurred volume increases and accelerating express and dedicated lines.

In September, the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port-Felixstowe "China-Europe Arctic Express" - the world's first dedicated Arctic container route for e-commerce and high-value goods - was launched. It offers faster, low-carbon logistics for high-end manufacturing, e-commerce, and new-energy sectors.

Alongside new business expansion, multimodal transport has also emerged as a key direction for ports to enhance logistics organization capabilities. Multiple coastal ports highlighted related progress in interviews.

Recently, commercial vehicles and auto parts from South Korea and other countries departed Yantai Port via cross-border trains, arriving in Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian nations in about 12 days - marking the routine operation of Yantai Port's "one-bill" cross-border sea-rail intermodal trains. This "one-bill" system completes end-to-end transport with a single document, promoting seamless coordination among rail, road, and sea modes.
Additionally, break-bulk cargo maintained strong momentum in 2025. Yantai Port launched four new routes to Cuba and Vietnam, achieving "global networking" with 30 liner services covering Africa, Southeast Asia, South America, and Europe. Annual break-bulk liner volume is projected to exceed 16 million tons.