During the 2024 National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (NPC & CPPCC), the government work report this year advocated actively nurturing emerging industries and future sectors to fortify China's leading position in fields like intelligent connected vehicles and new energy vehicles. In 2023, total domestic automobile sales soared to 30.094 million, with remarkable growth observed in new energy vehicle sales, reaching 9.495 million. At the same time, China's exports, especially in new energy vehicles, witnessed a "skyrocketing" trajectory, underscoring the emergence of the "new three" products, namely electronic vehicles, lithium batteries and solar cells, in Chinese international trade.

Based on data from Shenzhen Customs, the collective export value of the "new three" products reached CNY88.76 billion, reflecting a notable year-on-year increase of 33.9%. During the initial 11 months of 2023, the export value of electric passenger vehicles from Shenzhen surged to CNY19.08 billion, showcasing an impressive year-on-year growth rate of 273.9%.

In 2023, the Industry and Information Technology Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality unveiled the Three-Year Action Plan (2023-2025) to Accelerate the Construction of a World-Class Automotive City in Shenzhen. This comprehensive plan aims to streamline the development of the automotive industry in Shenzhen across all facets, including production, supply chain, marketing, domestic and international trade, as well as upstream and downstream sectors. Its key objectives include enhancing export transportation routes for automobiles and expediting the establishment of an integrated export base for trading, assembly, inspection, logistics, and finance, with a specific emphasis on new energy vehicles. By 2025, the annual export volume is projected to exceed 600,000 vehicles.

As China's intelligent connected new energy vehicles continue to advance their capabilities and gain ground in international competition, Shenzhen, as a pioneering demonstration zone, spearheads efforts to establish a global presence for these vehicles. Through proactive exploration and the provision of high-quality solutions and support services for the international expansion of new energy vehicles, Shenzhen has emerged as a model for fostering new productive forces.

With the sustained growth in the export volume of new energy vehicles and the rise in overseas orders, traditional shipping methods such as Ro-Ro shipment are no longer sufficient to meet export demands. YANTIAN has swiftly embraced innovative approaches tailored to the export of new energy vehicles.

As one of Shenzhen's pivotal ports, how does YANTIAN employ innovative methods to bolster domestic new energy vehicle brands as they reach global markets? Let's explore this together.

The "one container for three vehicles" solution assures efficient shipping
On August 28, 2023, at Yantian Port, over 700 containers laden with nearly 2,000 new energy vehicles of a prestigious Chinese brand were carefully loaded onto "OOCL FELIXSTOWE", which made its maiden call at YANTIAN, bound for the port of Rotterdam. This milestone marked a record-breaking single export volume for this automotive brand.

Zhong Guohui, Senior Yard Operation Manager at Shenzhen Pingyan Multimodal Company Limited, emphasised that in light of the rapid expansion of new energy vehicles, YANTIAN, in cooperation with port supervisory authorities such as Yantian Maritime Safety Administration and China Classification Society, introduced a tailored "one container for three vehicles" solution as early as September 30, 2022. This innovative approach not only cuts down transportation costs per vehicle for automotive companies but also streamlines processes like grounding from tractors, stacking at the terminal, and pickup from the yard upon vehicle arrival at the port, thereby significantly boosting transportation efficiency. 

Developing industry standards for container shipment of new energy vehicles
At Yantian Port, meticulous and scientifically-driven processes and operational protocols are implemented for the loading of new energy vehicles into containers and subsequent export. These measures ensure the safe, efficient, and timely delivery of vehicles to export destinations, thereby establishing a streamlined logistics pathway for products to access global markets.

In the past, new energy vehicles containing lithium batteries were classified as hazardous goods during container shipping, necessitating relocation to dedicated areas for inspection and loading. With the support of Yantian Maritime Safety Administration, Yantian Port now boasts the necessary infrastructure for inspection, loading, and storage, while developing related industry standards.

YANTIAN has drafted and formulated industry standards for container shipment of new energy vehicles, certified by the China Classification Society. Currently, YANTIAN offers comprehensive services from inspection and loading to transportation. Our personnel undergo rigorous training to ensure the smooth export of new energy vehicles and other products. We collaborate with logistics and shipping professionals to provide automotive companies with one-stop logistics services from factories to major ports worldwide, gradually establishing an automotive export service chain comprising "port + logistics + trade."

Zhang Ruifeng, Secretary-General of the Guangdong New Energy Vehicle Industry Technology Innovation Alliance, commented, "Yantian Port's establishment of industry standards not only demonstrates its potential to lead international norms but also highlights its comprehensive functionality, technological expertise, and management capabilities."

High-quality services enhance international competitiveness
As the preferred port of call for mega-vessels and the international shipping hub in the Greater Bay Area, YANTIAN has outstanding natural advantages. 

It has a unique 18-metre-deep and 475-metre-wide natural navigation channel in the Greater Bay Area that can allow 7/24 passage of 200,000-ton vessels in both directions with "zero time difference" and "zero tidal range". 

YANTIAN is capable of providing efficient and reliable terminal services, and 100% of the world's largest container vessels visiting the Greater Bay Area call at YANTIAN, and many shipping lines make YANTIAN their last port of call for its Europe and U.S. services, and port of call for their Latin America, Australasia and intra-Asia services. In 2023, YANTIAN welcomed 28 maiden calls of the world's largest container vessels, each capable of carrying over 24,000 TEU, topping the South China.

YANTIAN has partnered with shipping companies to provide approximately 100 weekly services to destinations worldwide, of which 60% are Europe and U.S. services. As the last port of call in South China, YANTIAN ensures cargo reaches its destination ports as fast as possible – about 22 days to Europe and 12.5 days to the U.S. West coast for the express sailings.

YANTIAN is steadfast in providing safe and innovative logistics solutions to our customers, guaranteeing smooth transportation for their new energy vehicles worldwide. Leveraging the extensive service network and the strategic advantage of being the last port of call in China, we are committed to offering efficient, convenient, secure, and reliable container loading for linehaul shipment for new energy vehicles. Additionally, we fully support Shenzhen's initiative to develop a "world-class automotive city", fostering the high-quality advancement of the new energy vehicle industry and ensuring the global expansion of China's new energy sector.