SPG is the world's largest port conglomerate in terms of cargo capacity. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A total of 181 vehicles were recently loaded onto the bulk carrier Venus at berth No 11 of the Longkou port area of Yantai Port, a subsidiary of Shandong Port Group (SPG), and were poised to be shipped to the Port of Lome in Africa.

This business was carried out under the cooperation of Longkou Port Company and a new trader for the first time. Taking advantage of the Maritime Silk Road, Yantai Port has transported Chinese-made products to Africa despite the depressed general cargo market, which has provided strong confidence for and injected strong vitality into the steady and sound growth of Longkou Port Company's general cargo business.  

The Longkou port area was one of China's earliest ports to open shipping routes to Africa. In January 2013, Longkou Port witnessed the departure of its first general cargo carrier Pan Edelweiss to Africa. After years of development, Longkou Port has built a platform for the China-Africa logistics trade that integrates trade, procurement, finance, and information, turning itself into a golden channel linking China and Africa for regions and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI.

Its shipping services cover most of Africa's coastal countries like Guinea, Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, and Djibouti. Its service scope covers over 20 provinces, cities, and municipalities in China. In addition, the port's "China-Africa general cargo liner" business was designated a provincial-level service brand.

Since SPG's port integration reform in Aug 6, 2019, Longkou Port Company has consistently improved its service efficiency, expanded markets, and carried out strategic cooperation with new traders, thus spurring the development of its general cargo business.  

To address current and future challenges, Longkou Port Company will be an active participant in the BRI through its convenient logistics, quality services, advanced technology, and sincere cooperation. It aims to build itself into a national general cargo transshipment base, while advancing the deep integration of the supply, industrial, and innovation chains of general cargo to help deliver more Chinese-made products to the global market. 

A total of 181 vehicles are loaded onto the bulk carrier Venus at berth No 11 of the Longkou port area of Yantai Port. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A vessel carrying a large volume of super-large oil equipment pieces departs from Yantai Port in East China's Shandong province to Kuwait on Feb 24. [Photo/WeChat account: Shandong-Port]