On 5 March 2009, YICT welcome the Dragon Service operated by MSC. A total of eleven 8,000-plus-TEU vessels have been deployed to this European express service, which calls at Yantian every Monday.
On 1 March 2009, a brand-new rail service was launched at YICT, allowing export cargo from Changping in eastern Dongguan City, Guangdong to be transported to Yantian in only 100 minutes.
On 27 February 2009, the Ever Shine, an S-Type green ship operated by Evergreen, called at YICT. The vessel's call marked the commencement of Evergreen's US West Coast - Asia - Europe Service Eastbound (UAEE) Service.
On 3 January 2009, YICT welcomed its first new service of 2009, the US West Coast-Asia-Europe service (UAEW) operated by Evergreen.
On 19 December 2008, YICT was named a "National Excellent Taxpaying, Import and Export Performance Enterprise with Foreign Investment" for 2007 by China's Ministry of Commerce and
On 19 December, 2008, YICT welcomed the COSCO Oceania, a container vessel deployed by COSCO for direct cross-strait shipping.
On 9 December 2008, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ) officially named YICT as an International Sanitary Port.
On 4 December 2008, Shenzhen Yantian Port Group (YPG) and Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA) for the joint construction and development of the Shenzhen Yantian East Port
On 27 November 2008, the first barge deployed to the new "Zhongshan-Yantian Express Service" left Zhongshan for Yantian.
On 15 November 2008, during the 15th Anniversary Celebration of Motorola University-China, YICT was awarded for "Best Six Sigma Practice" in a list of commendations for excellent participants and instructors in Six Sigma implementation.