Yantian Port Area has added 16 new routes in 9 months, and the -Made in China- overseas network continues to expand

In the first three quarters of this year, China’s total foreign trade imports and exports reached 32.33 trillion yuan, marking a year-on-year growth of 5.3%. During a recent interview at the Yantian Port area in Shenzhen, it became clear that the impressive growth and quality of foreign trade is underpinned by an expanding maritime network for “Made in China” products.

The Yantian Port area is responsible for over one-third of Guangdong Province’s foreign trade volume, as well as more than a quarter of the nation’s exports to the United States. While at the port, the local director showed us the latest shipping route map, revealing that 16 new routes have been added just in the first nine months of this year.

Notably, the surge in cross-border e-commerce has caught the attention of shipping companies. In response, a dedicated shipping line from Shenzhen to Los Angeles was launched in the second quarter, reducing inventory preparation time for clients to just 3 to 4 days.

In addition to the new routes, Guangdong has also opened six new Bay Area Combined Ports this year. This development allows goods to be loaded near local businesses and shipped directly to Yantian Port for international delivery, significantly speeding up the process.

Huang Wei, Deputy Director of the Ship Supervision Division at the Dapeng Customs under Shenzhen Customs, shared insights on the success of the Bay Area Combined Port routes, stating that under strong demand, the total number of routes has now reached 14. In the first three quarters of this year, the cargo passing through Yantian Port via this model amounted to 12,000 containers, which is 4.3 times more than the same period last year.

As the foreign trade shipping network continues to expand, it is increasingly driving both volume and quality. In the first three quarters, trade with over 160 countries and regions saw growth, with imports and exports to ASEAN countries and those along the Belt and Road Initiative increasing by 9.4% and 6.3%, respectively. Emerging markets now account for 64.5% of China’s total foreign trade.

Xiao Lu, Deputy Director of the Foreign Trade Department at the Ministry of Commerce, noted that foreign trade with major traditional markets has remained stable, while interactions with emerging markets have become closer. This progression represents a continuous improvement in quality and a steady increase in scale, contributing positively to national economic development.