Shanghai Port — the world's busiest container port — handled over 12.8 million TEU in the first quarter of 2026, setting a new quarterly record and surpassing the previous high set in Q3 2024. The volume represents a 6.2% year-on-year increase, driven primarily by front-loaded shipments ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday period.
Terminal Performance
Both of Shanghai's major terminal clusters performed strongly:
- Yangshan Deep-Water Port — Handled 7.1 million TEU (up 7.8% YoY), supported by the expanded automated yard areas that came online in late 2025.
- Waigaoqiao Terminal — Processed 5.7 million TEU (up 4.1% YoY), with vessel turnaround times averaging 10.2 hours.
Despite the volume surge, average container dwell times held steady at 4.1 days for imports and 3.3 days for exports, thanks to improved yard management systems and expanded rail-to-ship transfer capacity at Yangshan.
Implications for Shippers
The record throughput suggests sustained demand for China-origin goods in global markets. Shippers should consider:
- Booking vessel space 2–3 weeks ahead during peak periods
- Utilising Yangshan's rail-sea intermodal connections for cargo destined for inland provinces
- Working with customs brokers who have dedicated desks at both Yangshan and Waigaoqiao for faster issue resolution
Zhongshen maintains dedicated liaison staff at both terminal clusters, providing real-time shipment tracking and rapid resolution of documentation or inspection holds.