Shandong Port Group (SPG) has achieved remarkable milestones in the four years since its establishment.

Under the leadership of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and the Shandong Provincial People's Government, SPG focuses on two priorities on its path towards excellence, namely port integration reform and high-quality development. 

SPG has increased its cargo throughput by 100 million tons every year for four consecutive years. In 2022, its aggregate cargo volume exceeded 1.6 billion tons and its container volume surpassed 37 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). This showed an increase of 22.8 percent and 26.2 percent, respectively, when compared with the company's total volume in 2019. 

Furthermore, the company's key financial indicator has realized a historical breakthrough. Compared with figures from 2019, its 2022 operating revenue has doubled, and its profits grew by 58.7 percent. Its overall assets also went up 24.4 percent, while its per-capita profits increased by 48.58 percent.

Data shows that over the last four years, SPG has expedited the construction of an international shipping hub center in Northeast Asia, and has emerged as the world's largest comprehensive port operator. SPG has opened 338 shipping routes, maintaining the top position in northern China in both route number and density. It also has a leading combined transportation capacity thanks to its 35 inland ports and 86 freight train lines.

In 2022 alone, SPG completed a total investment of 49.8 billion yuan, of which, the investment into emerging business accounted for nearly 42 percent. Additionally, the business revenue generated by trade, logistics, shipping, industry-city integration and finance accounted for 77.76 percent of the company's total. This indicates that emerging businesses have become a key driver in optimizing SPG's profit structure, while also improving its development and upgrading progress.  

During the first six months of this year, SPG has continued to march forward on its path towards achieving four years of consecutive volume growth. Its cargo throughput and container volume went up 7.7 and 11.4 percent year-on-year respectively, ranking second and first among China's sea ports in terms of growth rate. During this same period, Qingdao Port's container volume overtook Shenzhen Port for the first time, and ranked third nationwide.

Four years on, SPG has taken the lead in releasing a specialized plan for scientific and technological innovation during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25). It has developed a new terminal operating system and broken nine global records for automated terminal handling efficiency. Furthermore, it won the Shandong Provincial Science and Technology Advancement Award for two consecutive years. In terms of green transitions, many of its subsidiaries received the GPAS (Green Port Award System) award from the APEC Port Services Network.

In the first half of this year, SPG held ceremonies for the inauguration of port-industry-city integration projects in Qingdao, Yantai, Rizhao, Binzhou and Weifang. It also co-organized the Shandong Port-Industry-City Integration Conference, in which 61 key industrial park project contracts were signed.

Since its establishment, SPG has proactively integrated into and served the Yellow River strategy, deepened strategic collaboration with 16 cities in Shandong, and set up nine representative offices across the province. Efforts have also been made by the company to advance the integration of port areas, urban areas and industrial parks, aiming to cultivate an advantageous industrial port cluster.

Four years on, SPG also continues to host high-level events, such as the Qingdao Land-Sea Linkage Seminar and Trade Conference, in order to bolster win-win cooperation between itself and the shipping sector.

SPG has made a lot of progress in its internationalization process, as solid steps have been taken to expand its overseas layout. Since this year, delegations led by the top executives of SPG have visited 19 countries throughout Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. During this time, the company also unveiled the nameplates of its Southeast Asian office, European office and Kazakhstani office. By doing so, SPG has improved its global network; strengthened its logistics, trade, shipping and overseas resources; and accelerated the implementation of emerging industries, such as cross-border trade and e-commerce logistics.

Standing at a new starting point, SPG plans to actively integrate itself into national and provincial strategies, deepen reform, and advance innovation and high-quality growth in order to achieve greater breakthroughs and excellent progress.

SPG has achieved remarkable milestones in the four years since its establishment. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]