The port in Shanghai broke a historic record. 203 881 TEU per day

On 1 August, container handling in Shanghai port reached 203 881 TEU, establishing the highest daily result in its history. For the first time, one port exceeded the sky-high level of 200 000 TEU in 24 hours, improving by nearly 9% the record set less than two months earlier.

According to Shanghai International Port Group, August 1 container terminals In Shanghai, they served 203 881 TEU, or by 16 569 TEU more than the previous record. The new score was nearly 9% higher than it was.

Record of disturbances caused by typhoon

The record fell a few weeks after passing the typhoon of Bavi, which in mid-July for about four days disrupted port work. After the weather improved, container ships operating ocean and cart connections began almost simultaneously hauling to Shanghai, which led to congestion, reduced the availability of waterfront positions and caused rapid filling of container squares.

Shanghai International Port Group directed additional resources to clear the backlog and coordinated the work of terminals. During the normal rhythm restoration, transhipments remained at around 172 thousand TEUs per day and from 1 August increased to record 203 881 TEUs.

Such a high result should not be considered as a new permanent level of transhipment, as it was affected by the accumulation of ships and cargo after the weather break. However, it shows that the port in Shanghai was able to unload the congestion in a short time and restore regular shipping services.

Shanghai port remains the world's largest container port

The record of daily transhipment strengthens Shanghai's position as the world's most important container port. In 2025, more than 55.06 million TEU were served there, making the port ranked first in the global ranking of container ports for the 16th consecutive time.

The city authorities assume that by 2030 annual transhipments exceed 58 million TEUs. This would mean an increase of at least 2.94 million TEU compared to the result achieved in 2025, with port development not only increasing its capacity, but also expanding transit handling, rail transport and automation of terminals.

One of the most important projects is the construction of Xiaoyangshan North terminal, the target capacity of which is to be 11.6 million TEU per year. The first part of the western section of the terminal is expected to start a trial operation before the end of 2026. Once started, it will be the third automated container terminal in Port in Shanghai.

Infrastructure expansion and further automation are intended to allow Shanghai to maintain the main container port position in the delta Yangtze. The August record shows the scale of the possibilities of existing terminals, but at the same time confirms that with such a large volume of maritime transport even a few days' break can lead to a significant increase in ship and container traffic.