The second 400,000-metric-ton ore terminal at Qingdao Port, part of Shandong Port Group, began operations on Oct 27. With this, Qingdao Port has become the first of its kind in China to operate an intelligent 400,000-ton dry bulk terminal and the first in North China to operate two 400,000-ton ore terminals.

This achievement not only signifies a new leap forward for Qingdao Port's hub capacity and the Qingdao International Shipping Center but also sets a new benchmark for the construction and operation of ultra-large dry bulk terminals in China. It plays a crucial role in supporting the transformation and upgrading of China's port industry.

The second 400,000-ton ore terminal is located in the Dongjiakou port area. Construction officially began in December 2022, and the terminal features a 300,000-ton iron ore berth, two 3,500-ton/hour ship unloaders, and a 10,500-ton/hour belt conveyor system. Additionally, supporting facilities include a 290,000-square-meter front storage yard and a 1.02-million-square-meter rear-end storage yard. Once completed, the terminal will increase the port's annual capacity by 16 million tons and its storage capacity by 10 million tons, reinforcing a solid "maritime safety barrier" for the national energy.

Notably, the newly commissioned terminal is China's first intelligent 400,000-ton bulk terminal. It integrates advanced technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing, enabling real-time monitoring, intelligent decision-making, and digital perception throughout the entire production and operation process. Equipped with the most advanced and intelligent dry bulk handling equipment, the terminal sets a new example for the transformation of port operations from "traditional operations" to "smart services".

According to port operators, Dongjiakou port area's first 400,000-ton ore terminal received its first 400,000-ton carrier in 2015, marking the beginning of the "mega vessel era" for dry bulk cargo operations among Chinese ports. By September 2025, it had handled over 460 vessel calls, with an aggregate cargo volume of 160 million tons, maintaining a leading position among coastal ports nationwide.

Today, with two 400,000-ton ore terminals enabling multimodal transportation via sea, land, and rail for cargo collection and distribution, the port will further increase its capacity to serve the transportation of bulk commodities nationwide and safeguard the stability of China's industrial value and supply chains.

The second 400,000-ton ore terminal at Qingdao Port begins operations. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The inauguration ceremony of the ore terminal at Qingdao Port, part of the Shandong Port Group. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]