A Review of Asias’s Top 5 Shipping Hubs
If you are keen on exploring shipping jobs, here is a breakdown of the top 5 hubs for the shipping industry in Asia. Asia is the largest continent on the planet and stretches from the western Pacific Ocean to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Asia accounts for the majority of global production and the products are exported to the world by sea in large, ocean-faring container ships. Over 1700 ports have been established in Asia and the largest ones among these have become huge container hubs to support international trade. Strikingly, 9 out of the top 10 container ports in the world are in Asia and 7 of them are in China alone.
Port of Shanghai, China
Handling approximately 50 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) per year, Shanghai began life in shipping in 1842. In the last decade, it has established itself as the busiest container port globally. The port singularly supports 25% of China’s foreign trade. Over 2600 vessels arrive in Shanghai each day, and over 80% of these are cargo ships and container ships. Shanghai’s Yangshan Deepwater Port is the world’s largest automated container terminal and means the port can accommodate the largest vessels in any fleet. The port is governed by the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission.
Port of Singapore
Supporting almost 40 million TEUs annually, the port of Singapore was officially established in 1964. Today, it connects 600 seaports in over 120 countries. It is the second largest and busiest port globally with around 2100 vessels arriving daily: the majority of these are cargo and container ships. However, the port handles half of the world’s annual petroleum products and so many of the vessels are oil tankers and ships carrying chemicals. Lots of cruise ships also stop off in Singapore. The port is governed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, China
Handling over 35 million TEUs per year, the port of Ningbo-Zhoushan is the oldest seaport in China and the third busiest in the whole of Asia. Over 600 vessels arrive in the port each day with the majority being cargo ships, container ships and tankers. The port is expansive and includes Beilun Port, Ningbo Port and Zhenhai Port. It links up to 600 ports via 260 container routes. It has recently introduced new technology that brings automation to cargo handling, and it has excellent onward transport links via road and rail. The port is governed by the Ningbo Municipal Transport Bureau and the Ningbo Municipal Port Administration Bureau.
Port of Shenzhen, China
Supporting almost 30 million TEUs each year, the port of Shenzhen covers a vast area of 260 kilometers of coastline in the Guangdong province of China. It consists of three main parts called Yantian, Nanshan, and Dachan Bay. The overall port is connected to over 300 ports throughout the world. Almost 500 vessels arrive at the port each day and these are mainly cargo and container ships. The port is governed by the Transport Commission of Shenzhen Municipality.
Port of Qingdao, China
Handling approximately 26 million TEUs annually, the port of Qingdao started life in 1892. It has a strategic role in the New Silk Road project and consists of 4 ports: Guangdong Oil, Dagang, Qianwan, and Dongjiakou. Around 200 vessels visit the port daily with the majority being container ships and fishing boats. The port is governed by the Qingdao Port International Co Ltd.
It is fair to say that Asia plays a dominant role in the shipping industry on account of its size and volume of goods. The shipping hubs in the region are therefore at the cutting-edge as part of supporting global trade and China, clearly, is at the epicentre. This is useful for anyone pursuing a career in shipping.