Shanghai aims to become a world-class international shipping center by 2030, with stronger connectivity, higher-quality and more efficient services, smart and low-carbon development, resilient governance, and enhanced global resource allocation capabilities, according to a plan released by the municipal government on July 22.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), the city aims to increase annual container throughput to more than 50 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Its two major airports are expected to handle 150 million passengers annually, while cargo and mail throughput is projected to reach about 4.7 million tons.

The plan also calls for expanding insurance coverage for green ships from 2.3 billion yuan ($339.6 million) to 10 billion yuan and raising the annual value of shipping arbitration cases to more than 3 billion yuan.

Shanghai’s ports aim to automate operations for 15 million TEUs over the five-year period, while the city’s airports will introduce a fully paperless passenger experience. Green marine fuel bunkering will also be expanded, with bonded LNG bunkering reaching 1 million cubic meters, according to the new plan.

Shanghai is well positioned to achieve the above goals, vice-mayor He Qing said at a news conference.

The city's ambitions are underpinned by its recent performance. According to the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index, released on July 10, Shanghai overtook London for the first time to rank second globally.

In 2025, Shanghai's two airports handled 135 million passengers, the third-highest in the world, while processing 4.54 million tons of cargo and mail, ranking second globally.

Meanwhile, the port of Shanghai handled more than 55.06 million TEUs in 2025, retaining its position as the world’s busiest container port for the 16th consecutive year.

Source: China Daily