On October 17, the 2025 Hutchison Ports YANTIAN Import Customer Communication Session and Yantian District Import Industry Chain Promotional Forum was successfully held, bringing together over 300 global partners from government agencies, industry associations, and enterprises to strengthen supply chain resilience and advance stable, high-quality trade.

Amid the complexities of an ever-changing global tariff landscape, YANTIAN—one of the world's largest single container terminals—has continued to leverage its pivotal role as a logistics hub. By actively adapting to shifting market conditions, pooling diverse resources, and deepening cooperation across the port and shipping sectors, YANTIAN is working to address the challenges of global uncertainty with confidence and agility.

The event drew strong attention from across the industry, featuring the participation of the Consul General of Chile in Guangzhou and partners who travelled from headquarters in Brazil to attend. Throughout the event, government representatives interpreted supportive industrial policies; YANTIAN presented a comprehensive overview of its import business; the Guangdong Cold Chain Association provided insights into market trends; partners shared authentic service experiences; and the Shenzhen Port Group showcased solutions designed to empower the broader port and logistics value chain. Each session focused on addressing customers' most pressing needs. By bringing together government agencies, port supervisory authorities, consulates, chambers of commerce, industry associations, shipping companies, third-party logistics providers, and cargo owners, the event fostered dialogue on enhancing the efficiency of the import supply chain, expanding cold chain services, and deepening port–shipping collaboration—injecting fresh certainty and momentum into the smooth and sustainable flow of global trade.

 Collaborative Synergy, Shared Progress—Embracing Challenges, Seizing Opportunities, and Creating a Brighter Future Together

Zhang Xionghan, Deputy District Mayor of Yantian District
YANTIAN continues to elevate its service capabilities while advancing its digitalisation and green transformation. Its network of inland ports and port alliances is steadily expanding, and innovative multimodal transport models—such as rail-sea services—are achieving remarkable results. Today, YANTIAN stands as a pivotal hub in the Greater Bay Area and one of the preferred ports- of-call for mega-vessels in the world, contributing indispensable "YANTIAN Strength" to ensuring the stability and smooth operation of regional international trade and supply chains.

Lawrence Shum, Manager Director of Hutchison Ports YANTIAN
With the strong support of government agencies and port supervisory authorities at all levels, YANTIAN will continue to advance in step with partners across the industry. Leveraging the unique advantages of Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation and the continuous optimisation of customs clearance efficiency, YANTIAN will further strengthen its role as a key gateway connecting the YANTIAN–Kwai Tsing port areas. Guided by firm confidence, pragmatic action, and innovative thinking, we will make every effort to safeguard supply chain resilience and drive the high-quality growth of international trade.

Li Jianhua, Founding President of Guangdong Cold Chain Association
YANTIAN has been recognised four times with the "Best Green Container Terminal" award, leading the way in sustainable, low-carbon port development and serving as an international benchmark for China's green cold chain. It continues to pioneer innovation in technology, resources, infrastructure, and business models. With strong government support and close collaboration with industry partners, YANTIAN has become a model for China's green and globally connected cold chain ports. Through its forward-thinking environmental initiatives, YANTIAN also helps import and export enterprises accumulate carbon credits, improve profitability, and enhance their international competitiveness.

Lu Qiaomei, Supply Chain Manager of Citrosuco China
YANTIAN is one of Citrosuco's most important strategic partners. We chose YANTIAN as our primary import gateway for four key reasons: First, it has an extensive shipping network, offering stable and direct services to South America and Europe. Second, it owns state-of-the-art infrastructure and well-developed cold chain facilities. Third, its strategic location, adjacent to Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, provides efficient access to markets across South China, Southwest China, and Central China. Fourth, it offers efficient, professional, and customer-centric services. Moreover, the low-carbon cold chain rail transportation project for orange juice, carried out in partnership with YANTIAN's rail-sea services, ensures stable temperature control throughout the entire journey, significantly reduces logistics costs, and aligns seamlessly with our ESG strategy.

Wang Qian, Director of Bureau of Commerce of Yantian District
As the world's largest single container terminal and supported by world-class customs services, YANTIAN provides enterprises with efficient and seamless global logistics solutions. It is home to Shenzhen's only national backbone cold chain logistics base, offering over 2 million square metres of diversified warehousing facilities to meet a wide range of business needs. Through its Asia-Pacific Distribution Centre, YANTIAN connects to Hong Kong via feeder services and links the Chinese hinterland through rail-sea services, building an integrated supply chain network that extends across the Greater Bay Area, China, and even the world. This underpins diverse business development and helps build a full-chain industrial cluster.

YANTIAN's Five Core Strengths—Building a Strong Foundation for Import Trade

01 A Preferred Port-of-Call for Mega-Vessels in the World with Over 100 Weekly Services Connecting the Global Destinations

Global network and exceptional efficiency: With its naturally deep-water harbour, YANTIAN can accommodate the world's largest 200,000-ton container vessels, ensuring smooth, two-way, all-weather navigation. As one of the world's largest single container terminals, YANTIAN has over 100 weekly services that weave a global network linking major ports across every continent. Between January and September 2025, the port added 14 new services, extending coverage to Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. This dense and efficient service layout provides strong logistical support for the rapid and reliable movement of global trade.

02 A Preferred Port for Cold Chain in South China with Comprehensive Services and Complete Facilities

National-level cold chain logistics base: In June 2025, YANTIAN was designated by the National Development and Reform Commission as Shenzhen's only national backbone cold chain logistics base. YANTIAN continues to upgrade its cold chain infrastructure, enhance service quality, and inject new vitality into the cold chain logistics industry.

Collaborative hub for collection and distribution: As the core district of Shenzhen’s vision to become a global marine centre, YANTIAN continues to attract leading shipping and logistics enterprises, leveraging the port's global hub position and robust industrial ecosystem to drive regional growth. For instance, COSCO Shipping, Shenzhen Port Group, and CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering have jointly established Shenzhen COSCO Shipping Smart Supply Chain—a strategic logistics hub for cargo collection and distribution around YANTIAN. The project will feature high-standard warehouses and a multi-functional logistics park, offering integrated, value-added, end-to-end services to meet diverse customer needs and promote the high-quality development of the regional logistics industry.

A Preferred Port for Cold Chain in South China: YANTIAN has long been committed to developing its cold chain import and export business, establishing itself as a pivotal hub for fresh and frozen cargoes from North America, Latin America, Europe, Australia & New Zealand, and Southeast Asia into China. Today, it stands as the Preferred Port of Cold Chain in South China. Notably, 95% of Shenzhen's imported frozen meat passes through YANTIAN, while fresh fruit and vegetables have also become a major growth driver in recent years.

Comprehensive cold chain support services: Currently, YANTIAN boasts over 4,500 reefer plugs within the port area, catering to the storage needs of both imported and exported reefer containers. There are 2 temperature-controlled inspection facilities, 2 Customs-designated supervisory site to ensure fast inspection and release for reefer cargoes, and 5 off-dock reefer warehouses with a total capacity of about 200,000 tons to provide one-stop and end-to-end fresh and frozen food services to the Greater Bay Area and even the whole country.

Efficient and Customer-Focused Port Services
• Extensive and reliable global shipping and multimodal transport networks
• World-class operational efficiency
• Professional inspection and streamlined customs clearance
• Dedicated service teams providing personalised support

Comprehensive Value-Added Facilities
• Bonded, supervised, and general warehouses
• International logistics and domestic distribution centres
• E-commerce platforms and return & transshipment centres
• Processing and repackaging facilities for domestic sales or re-export

03 Greater Bay Area Feeder Network, Seamlessly Connecting to the World

In March 2025, the Department of Transport of Guangdong Province released the Three-Year Action Plan for Quality Development, which for the first time explicitly called for deepened cooperation between YANTIAN and Kwai Tsing Port. In 2024, YANTIAN's feeder throughput reached 1.19 million TEU, setting a new record. To date, the port operates 17 feeder services with over 90 sailings per week, and has established 15 port alliances.

The Shenzhen–Hong Kong Connect has greatly enhanced transshipment efficiency between the region's two major ports—YANTIAN in Shenzhen and Kwai Tsing Port in Hong Kong. Each week, more than 240 services connect the two ports to over 400 destinations worldwide. Last year, feeder traffic between YANTIAN and Hong Kong increased by nearly 30% year-on-year, setting new records in both interport and overall feeder volumes. The two ports' international trade networks are highly complementary: cargo arriving at YANTIAN can reach Kwai Tsing within 6–8 hours, seamlessly connecting to its extensive long-haul services.

Kwai Tsing Port primarily serves Asian and South American markets, boasting the largest number of Intra-Asia (120+) and South America (15) services in South China, while YANTIAN focuses on Europe and the US services, with 4 vessels heading for Europe and 6 vessels heading for the US every day.

04 Strong Support from Port Supervisory Authorities, Ensuring a Smooth "Express Lane" for Imports

In June 2025, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Deepening Reform and Expanding Opening-Up Through the Shenzhen Comprehensive Reform Pilot, specifically calling for enhanced support for YANTIAN in facilitating customs clearance and trade efficiency. As a key testing ground for reform, YANTIAN continues to work closely with government agencies and industry partners to drive reform initiatives and promote the growth of international trade.

Facilitated customs clearance: YANTIAN actively coordinates with port supervisory authorities to ensure efficient, smooth import operations. Through measures introduced by Dapeng Customs, high-priority cargo such as fresh fruits, plant bulbs, and dangerous goods can complete one-stop customs procedures, with unloading, inspection, sampling, and container pickup all achievable on the same day.

Saving 1-2 days in clearance: For example, a direct vessel carrying nearly 10,000 tons of cherries docked at YANTIAN. Thanks to seamless coordination of various parties, all containers were unloaded by the same afternoon, and pre-declared containers completed 100% of customs procedures the same day and reached the market promptly. Customers using the immediate pickup service could collect their containers within 10 minutes of unloading.

05 Stable and Efficient Rail-Sea Services Offering Direct Cargo Delivery to Central and Western China

Connectivity across domestic and international markets: YANTIAN features Shenzhen's only railway directly accessing the port area. To date, YANTIAN has developed 24 inland ports and 34 rail-sea services. Domestically, it seamlessly integrates with the national railway network and other domestic ports, covering the Greater Bay Area, Southwest, and Central China. Globally, it works with the world’s major shipping lines to provide over 100 weekly shipping services worldwide, providing direct access to international markets.

South China's first stable cold chain rail service: On April 8, 2023, the YANTIAN–Ganzhou cold chain rail service officially commenced, achieving direct delivery within 12 hours. The service features an unattended, real-time remote temperature monitoring system and is supported by ample charging stations along the Pingyan Railway and at Ganzhou Station. Its transport capacity and schedule are highly stable and reliable, unaffected by external disruptions. Compared with traditional diesel-powered cold chain trucks, carbon emissions are reduced by over 90%, making it a core solution for sustainable cold chain logistics and closely aligned with corporate ESG strategies.

Empowering customers to expand inland markets: The rail-sea service not only extends the port's reach but also enhances cargo transport efficiency and lowers logistics costs. Rail operations run 24/7/365, enabling cargoes to reach inland regions such as Chongqing and Chengdu quickly. This allows customers to expand their markets further into China's interior.

Studies show that rail transport reduces carbon emissions per unit of freight turnover by up to 90% compared to road. A fully loaded rail-sea intermodal train to YANTIAN can replace around 100 container trucks, making a significant impact in reducing environmental pollution and safety risks, lowering energy consumption, easing road congestion, optimising the transport structure, and supporting China's dual carbon goals.

Looking ahead, YANTIAN will continue to leverage its role as a major global port to support the import and export of high-quality products, help turn China's domestic market into a global opportunity, and work closely with partners to strengthen practical trade cooperation and drive the high-quality development of China's international trade.

Contact information of YANTIAN import task force

Candy Liu
📱Phone: +86 159 9965 1710
Tel: +86 755 2529 8989
📮Email: candy.liu@yict.com.cn

Michael Jiang
📱Phone: +86 136 7018 0211
Tel: +86 755 2529 6542
📮Email: zhiling.jiang@yict.com.cn