Zhanjiang Port is expected to process 900,000 sea containers this year, followed by 1 million in 2018, thanks to a recently granted 22-million-yuan ($3.31 million) government subsidy.

In the past year, the port opened 13 domestic and international shipping routes creating a total of 34, of which seven are direct routes to Southeast Asia.

A further six rail-sea transport trains connecting Zhanjiang with Southwest China and Southeast Asia have been added, boosting the port's total to eight.

Operation of these routes will promote economic and trade exchanges between Zhanjiang and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), enabling the city to provide better logistics and transport services and serve as a bridge connecting Guangdong province to ASEAN.

The port operator – Zhanjiang Port Group says it will further improve its facilities and service to promote container transport, as well as facilitate cold chain transportation to promote regional economic and trade exchanges.