The Port of Yantian in Shenzhen, Guangdong, stands as one of the world's largest single-container terminals. Daily, over 40,000 standard containers depart from here for destinations across the globe, solidifying its status as a true "world-class shipping hub." In the first half of 2026, the port's container throughput reached a new record high for the period, with cross-border e-commerce emerging as a key driver of this accelerated growth.
The CMA CGM Osiris, a vessel loaded with nearly 5,000 standard containers, departed Yantian Port directly for the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands on the evening of July 17. This ship operates on a new express route to Europe launched in April 2026, which reduces transit time by nearly half a month compared to standard routes, perfectly meeting the stringent timeliness demands of cross-border e-commerce. Notably, every sailing on this route has been fully loaded since its inauguration.
At 4 p.m., the operation control center, known as the "port brain" of Yantian Port, is a hive of activity. Staff issue commands via the operational platform, coordinating all activities across the port's 20 deep-water berths. This centralized system manages everything from loading and unloading mega-ships at the berths to container placement in storage yards and the movement of trucks through the gates. Kang Hongjun, the Duty Manager at Yantian International Container Terminals Ltd., noted that the daily handling volume is nearing 60,000 standard containers, with over 20,000 truck trips processed at the gates. Since 2026, the port has specifically added several remote-controlled devices to enhance operational efficiency.
To align with the timeliness needs of cross-border e-commerce clients, Yantian Port has collaborated with shipping companies to launch more than ten sea express lines. Furthermore, to address the pain point in cross-border e-commerce less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments—where numerous, scattered consignments can cause an entire container to be detained if one is selected for inspection—the port has implemented a "inspect first, ship later" model for sea LCL. Lin Zhiluan, Deputy General Manager of Commercial Affairs at Yantian International, explained that companies can first send their loose cargo to designated customs supervision areas for inspection before it is consolidated and loaded for shipment. This process reduces customs clearance time by over 50% and cuts comprehensive costs for enterprises by more than 30%.
In the first half of 2026, Yantian Port's container throughput exceeded 8.3459 million TEUs, a 10% year-on-year increase, setting another historical record. Cross-border e-commerce has become a vital engine for the growth of the port's foreign trade container volume.
From Daily Necessities to Tech Products: Yantian Port Facilitates Global Reach for "Made in China"
As a "super hub" for national cross-border e-commerce, Shenzhen is home to nearly half of China's cross-border e-commerce sellers, totaling over 120,000 companies. From daily necessities to technological products, Yantian Port supports the global distribution of "Made in China" goods with highly efficient services.
Yan Aoyi's company, established just over two years ago, launched its first product—a dynamic ergonomic chair—in the second half of 2025 after a period of research and development, selling it overseas through cross-border e-commerce channels. Yan Aoyi, the company's head of overseas marketing, reported that online sales in overseas markets reached over 100 million yuan in the first quarter of 2026 and approximately 140 million yuan in the second quarter. Compared to the latter half of 2025, sales for the first half of 2026 increased by nearly 50%. Achieving such sales performance overseas with a startup's inaugural product has been highly encouraging for Yan and her colleagues. She stated that choosing to develop the business in Shenzhen was primarily due to the city's well-established industrial chain support and efficient port logistics. In just over two years, they have successfully navigated the entire process from R&D to going global.
Another Shenzhen-based company specializing in portable fans noted that a rare heatwave in Europe during May and June 2026 led to severe shortages of portable fans in the local market. They utilized Yantian Port's rapid export channels to replenish stock, quickly getting their products back on European shelves. Chen Liang, the company's负责人, reported that their growth rate in the European market for the first half of 2026 was three to five times higher than the same period in 2025. The motor, mold, and supply chain industries across the Pearl River Delta region can provide them with rapid responses.
It is understood that the category structure of cross-border e-commerce exports from Shenzhen is undergoing significant changes. A logistics company负责人 reported that their cross-border e-commerce cargo volume grew by about 30% year-on-year in the first half of 2026. Within this, the customer base for smart devices, outdoor smart equipment, and consumer electronics products increased by approximately 15%. Zhang Peipei, the company's负责人, explained that starting in 2026, there has been noticeable growth in products related to AI technology, smart equipment, and consumer electronics, indicating ongoing product upgrades.
Huang Wei, Deputy Section Chief of the First Vessel Supervision Section at Dapeng Customs (subordinate to Shenzhen Customs), provided export value figures for high-value products shipped via Yantian Port in the first half of the year. Exports of automatic data processing equipment were valued at 38.09 billion yuan, medical instruments and apparatus at 8.62 billion yuan, and 3D printers at 6.39 billion yuan, representing year-on-year growth of 47.7%, 2.7%, and 115.7%, respectively.