A Capesize cargo vessel carrying 520 engineering vehicles, totaling 46,300 cubic meters, recently left Yantai Port of Shandong Port Group (SPG) for Africa, setting records for the largest single-vessel load of engineering vehicles and the highest loading efficiency of its kind.

Over 500 engineering vehicles were shipped from Yantai Port for Africa. [Photo/WeChat account: Shandong-Port]

The shipment achieved a loading rate of 17,700 cubic meters within 24 hours, underlining the port's expanding role in supporting the global reach of Chinese manufacturing and enhancing China-Africa trade connections.

As a significant breakbulk logistics hub in northern China, Yantai Port has broadened its Africa-bound shipping network to over 20 countries and regions, including Guinea, Tanzania, Nigeria, and South Africa. Cargo categories have surpassed 200, ranging from engineering machinery and vehicles to construction materials and project equipment.

To ensure safe and efficient loading, the port operator devised a tailored loading plan to fit the vessel's structure and the diverse sizes of the vehicles. Technical teams optimized cargo arrangement, stacking patterns, and securing methods to maximize space usage and improve transport safety.

Customs, maritime, and border inspection authorities also worked closely to improve operational efficiency. Since early this year, Yantai Port's China-Africa breakbulk cargo business has stayed strong, with Q1 cargo throughput surpassing 2 million metric tons for the first time, a 46.49 percent increase over the previous year.