The Yantian Port in Shenzhen, Guangdong, is one of the world's largest single-container terminals, dispatching over 40,000 standard containers globally daily, truly earning its title as a "world-class shipping hub." In the first half of 2026, Yantian Port achieved a record high for container throughput for the period, with cross-border e-commerce showing particularly rapid growth.

The CMA CGM Othello, loaded with nearly 5,000 standard containers, set sail from Yantian Port directly to Rotterdam, Netherlands on the evening of July 17. This vessel operates on a new Europe route launched in April 2026, cutting transit time by nearly half a month compared to standard routes, perfectly meeting the stringent timeliness demands of cross-border e-commerce. Notably, every voyage on this route has been fully booked since its inauguration.

At 4 PM, the operation control center, known as the "port brain" of Shenzhen's Yantian Port, is a hive of activity. Staff issue commands via the operating platform, coordinating all activities across the port's 20 deep-water berths. From unloading massive ships at the docks to container placement in the yards and managing truck traffic at the gates, everything is centrally dispatched from here.

Kang Hongjun, Duty Manager at Yantian International Container Terminals Ltd., noted that the daily handling volume is approaching 60,000 standard containers, with over 20,000 truck trips processed at the gates. Since 2026, the port has added several remote-controlled devices specifically 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 over ten sea express routes. Addressing the pain point where consolidated cargo for e-commerce involves numerous, scattered shipments, and one shipment's inspection can delay an entire container, the port has implemented a "inspect first, ship later" model for sea freight consolidation.

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. After customs inspection is completed, the goods are then packed and shipped. This process compresses clearance time by over 50% and saves companies more than 30% in overall costs.

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 crucial engine driving 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 national "super hub" for cross-border e-commerce, Shenzhen is home to nearly half of China's cross-border e-commerce sellers, totaling over 120,000. From "daily necessities" to "tech products," Yantian Port facilitates the global distribution of "Made in China" goods with its 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 research and development, selling it overseas via cross-border e-commerce channels.

Yan Aoyi, the company's Overseas Marketing Director, reported that online sales in overseas markets reached over 100 million RMB in the first quarter and approximately 140 million RMB in the second quarter of 2026's first half. Compared to the second half of 2025, sales grew by nearly 50%.

Achieving such sales performance overseas with a startup's first product has been highly encouraging for Yan Aoyi and her team. She noted that choosing Shenzhen for development was primarily due to its complete 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.

Chen Liang, the head of another Shenzhen-based portable fan company, explained that an unprecedented heatwave in Europe during May-June 2026 caused severe shortages of portable fans in the local market. They quickly replenished stock via rapid exports through Yantian Port, getting their products back on European shelves in a short timeframe.

Chen Liang stated that their growth rate in the European market for the first half of 2026 was three to five times that of the same period in 2025. The motor, mold, and supply chain industries across the Pearl River Delta can provide them with rapid responses.

It is understood that the product category structure for Shenzhen's cross-border e-commerce exports is undergoing significant changes. A logistics company executive reported that their cross-border e-commerce cargo volume grew by about 30% year-on-year in the first half of 2026. The customer base for smart devices, outdoor smart equipment, and consumer electronics products increased by approximately 15%.

Zhang Peipei, the company's head, mentioned 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 Vessel Supervision Section at Dapeng Customs (under Shenzhen Customs), reported that for the first half of the year, the export value of high-value products such as automatic data processing equipment, medical instruments and apparatus, and 3D printers via Yantian Port reached 38.09 billion yuan, 8.62 billion yuan, and 6.39 billion yuan, respectively. These figures represent year-on-year growth of 47.7%, 2.7%, and 115.7%.