A wharf in the Qujiang port area of Quzhou Port. [Photo/WeChat account: qujiangfabu]

The Qujiang port area of Quzhou Port in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, marked the departure of the first foreign trade container ship of 2026 on Jan 6. The vessel, carrying 24 standard containers of calcium chloride, is destined for the Port of Tacoma in Seattle, US, via Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang.

In 2025, Qujiang port area achieved a cargo throughput of 6.03 million metric tons, reflecting a 42 percent increase from the previous year, with its annual container throughput reaching 22,390 twenty-foot equivalent units.

Quzhou has focused on enhancing its shipping infrastructure and services, establishing itself as the largest inland port at the intersection of Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Anhui provinces.

Since its inception, Quzhou Port has diversified its cargo from coal and sand to include wood pulp, grain, steel, solar panels, and large power transmission equipment, launching a number of river-sea intermodal foreign trade routes.

Quzhou Port has formed business connections with over 20 ports, creating a network of 33 navigable routes across seven provinces and 33 cities.

The Qujiang port area's customs supervision began operations in 2025 and is integrated into the network of major ports like Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shanghai, providing local businesses with optimized logistics that facilitate global market access.

Shipping services have been optimized, reducing logistics costs for local companies and cutting waiting times for foreign trade vessels.