A celebration ceremony takes place on Dec 23, as SPG's annual cargo throughput tops 1.5 billion tons and its annual container throughput surpasses 34 million TEUs. [Photo/WeChat account: Shandong-Port]

Giant ports operator Shandong Port Group, or SPG, reported on Dec 23 that its annual cargo throughput had topped 1.5 billion tons and its container throughput had surpassed 34 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) – the standard industry container size – up 5.8 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively on the same period last year.

That performance ranked the group first in cargo and third in container handling globally. With its overall competitiveness scaling new heights, the group – based in Qingdao city in East China's Shandong province –is said to have achieved a historic leap. This paves the way for it to reach its ambition of growing into an international shipping hub in Northeast Asia, as well as a world-class seaports operator.

SPG has consistently improved its overall strength as its port integration reforms advance. This year it has opened 34 container routes, including 25 foreign trade routes, bringing the total number of its shipping routes to 317 – as part of its efforts to ensure the stable circulation of industrial production and supply chains.

Furthermore, it has opened 26 inland ports and 72 freight trains, with its annual sea-rail intermodal transportation capacity exceeding 2.5 million TEUs, ranking it top among China's coastal ports.

In 2020, Qingdao Port's cargo throughput and container throughput toppled Singapore Port and Busan Port, ascending to the fifth and sixth places globally. Elsewhere, cargo throughput at its Rizhao Port overtook the Port of Rotterdam to secure 10th place globally.

Another unit, Yantai Port, has established a distribution center for the north-south transportation of domestic commercial vehicles and has successfully built up a special fertilizer brand, becoming a significant fertilizer exporter in northern China. Bohai Bay Port's annual cargo volume has reached 26 million tons, making it the biggest beneficiary of SPG's port integration reforms.

Over the past two years, SPG has accelerated its moves to pursue transformation and high-quality development.

Based on the sphere of major businesses designed by the Shandong Provincial State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission – which includes shipping, a supply chain, investment and assets management – SPG has ramped up its efforts further. This is to develop supply chain finance, modern logistics and other emerging businesses through its 12 emerging business segments – in a bid to stride towards advanced industrial supply and value chains.

Moreover, SPG has accumulated the industrial strength and resources to become a world-class seaports operator as its annual cargo throughput exceeds 1.5 billion tons and annual container throughput surpasses 3.4 million TEUs. This attainment is expected to further enhance its influence and development in the global ports and shipping industry.

Moving forward, plans are for SPG to facilitate more resources to converge domestically. It is expected to become a destination of opportunity for the development of advanced services such as shipping trading, shipping finance and shipping law. This will help SPG take a new leap towards its goal of becoming an international shipping hub in Northeast Asia and a world-class seaports operator.