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The distribution of sea ports in southeastern China’s Zhejiang province has shifted from a dominance of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port to a collaborative network of multiple ports following a record-breaking year for exports. This growth has been fueled by industrial upgrades and the rapid expansion of emerging businesses.
Last year, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port handled over 1.4 billion tons of cargo, maintaining its position as the world’s busiest port for the 17th consecutive year, according to official figures. Meanwhile, each of Zhejiang’s four major ports surpassed 100 million tons, thanks to the establishment of new regular direct shipping routes that significantly shortened transportation times. Jiaxing Port’s throughput reached 144 million tons, while Taizhou and Wenzhou ports each processed 100 million tons for the first time.
These bustling port activities highlight Zhejiang’s strong international trade competitiveness. The region’s imports and exports increased by 5.4% to CNY 5.55 trillion (about USD 801.7 billion) in 2025, outperforming the national average growth of 3.8%. Export figures surged 7.2% to CNY 4.19 trillion, surpassing the CNY 4 trillion mark for the first time and accounting for 16% of China’s total exports, making it the second-largest export region after Guangdong.
Recently, a container vessel carrying nearly 800 twenty-foot equivalent units departed from Wenzhou Port bound for Saudi Arabia, marking the commencement of Zhejiang’s first direct trade route to the Red Sea. This route provides a faster maritime connection for Zhejiang’s southern region, as well as neighboring Fujian and Jiangxi provinces, connecting them with markets along the coast.
This new route links the major supply hubs of Yiwu and Wenzhou, facilitating “cargo consolidation in Yiwu and departures from Wenzhou Port,” explained Chen Huaxiao, an official at Yiwu Qianlan Import & Export. Besides Jeddah Port, goods will also reach other prominent Middle Eastern ports such as Sokhna in Egypt and Aqaba in Jordan, Chen added.
The inaugural voyage transported everyday essentials, hardware tools from Yiwu, and car, motorcycle parts, and new energy products manufactured by Wenzhou-based companies.
Additionally, a new direct route from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port to Australia launched last month features seven vessels each with a capacity of 4,000 TEUs operating weekly. This service aims to meet the export needs of businesses in Ningbo and surrounding areas to Oceania, according to Zhang Guanghao, deputy manager of the China Ocean Shipping Agency’s Ningbo branch.
These direct routes substantially boost transportation efficiency and logistics reliability. For example, Taizhou Port introduced two new maritime routes to East Africa and West Africa last year, primarily serving Yiwu’s small commodity markets, reducing the typical 60-day journey by more than half.
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