Beibu Gulf. [Photo/China News Service]

The annual container throughput of Beibu Gulf in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region exceeded 6 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2021 for the first time, a year-on-year growth of 18.8 percent.

Beibu Gulf leads domestic major coastal ports in terms of its container handling capacity growth rate, as it has maintained double-digit growth for five consecutive years. The number of sea-rail intermodal trains running along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor exceeded 6,000 as of Dec 28, 2021, proving to be a major boon to Beibu Gulf's growth. 

Beibu Gulf now has 64 shipping routes, 37 of which are for foreign trade, heading to almost all ASEAN countries and major domestic coastal ports. 

Efforts have also been made to boost smart port construction and digitalize the traditional port industry, greatly increasing the working efficiency at the port. 

A staff member from Beibu Gulf Port Group noted that the first and second phases of adjustment for Qinzhou Port's east channel expansion project have been completed, allowing large container ships weighing 200,000 metric tons to pass through.

The port is expected to invest 100 billion yuan ($16 billion) in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period to enhance infrastructure construction, as it strives to become a world-leading hub port.