Shanghai aims to become a top-tier intl shipping hub by 2030

By 2030, Shanghai should grow into an international shipping center featuring higher connectivity, quality and convenient services, smart and low-carbon transformation, resilient governance and strong resource allocation capabilities, according to a plan released by the municipal government on Wednesday.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, Shanghai's container throughput should cross 50 million TEUs. The city's two major airports are expected to receive 150 million passengers per year. The annual cargo and mail throughput is projected to hit about 4.7 million tons, said the plan.

Risk coverage for green ships should increase from 2.3 billion yuan ($339.6 million) to 10 billion yuan. The annual value of shipping arbitration cases is targeted at over 3 billion yuan.

Ports aim to automate operations for 15 million TEUs during the five years, while airports will roll out a fully paperless passenger experience. Green marine fuel bunkering will be scaled up, with bonded LNG bunkering reaching 1 million cubic meters, according to the new plan.

Shanghai is well positioned to achieve the above goals, Shanghai's Vice-mayor He Qing said during a news conference on Wednesday.

According to the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index released on July 10, Shanghai overtook London for the first time to rank second globally.

In 2025, Shanghai's two airports handled 135 million passengers, ranking third worldwide. They also processed 4.537 million tons of cargo and mail, the second highest across the globe.

Meanwhile, the port of Shanghai handled more than 55.06 million TEUs of containers last year, securing the top spot globally for the 16th consecutive year.

Much progress has been made during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period. The port of Shanghai is now capable of both bonded LNG and green methanol "ship-to-ship" bunkering services. The Adora Magic City, China's first domestically built large cruise ship, commenced commercial operations in January 2024. Shanghai also ranked first nationwide in premium income from hull and cargo insurance. A regulatory framework for foreign-related ad hoc maritime arbitration has been largely put in place in the city, He said.