Functioning as a port operator, the Shandong Port Group will work in conjunction with the shipping lines to jointly develop comprehensive container services.
The Chinese Shandong Port Group recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with seven prominent shipping lines including Ocean Network Express (ONE), COSCO Shipping, Maersk, CMA CGM, MSC, Evergreen, and SITC. Their collaborative efforts are targeted towards the exportation of electric vehicles (EVs), lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products.
“We can confirm that ONE has signed the MoU with Shandong Port. It is applied for all carriers focusing on the “new three commodities” – EVs, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products,” Japan’s ONE, the world’s sixth-largest liner, replied to WorldCargo News’ inquiry on Monday.
The MoU, aimed at deepening overall cooperation in what is referred to as “the new three,” was signed last week to advance the development of new high-quality productive forces and establish competitive advantages.
Functioning as a port operator, the Shandong Port Group will work in conjunction with the shipping lines to jointly develop comprehensive container services, enhancing Shandong Port’s offerings and ensuring stability in the industry’s supply chain.
Despite China’s prominence as a major EV exporter, a shortage in car carrier capacity exists. Consequently, the export of cars via containers presents itself as an alternative shipping method, offering increased capacity.
The signing ceremony for the MoU took place during the 2024 Shandong Port Group seminar on high-quality container development in Shanghai. Representing the Shandong Port Group were SPG Qingdao Port, SPG Logistics Group, and SPG Shipping Group.
The Shandong Port Group, a State-owned enterprise operating major ports in East China’s Shandong province, oversees four port groups: Qingdao Port, Rizhao Port, Yantai Port, and Bohai Bay Port.
As part of its commitment to fostering high-quality development and bolstering its openness to the global market, Shandong province, an economic powerhouse in East China, pledges to expedite the construction of a world-class port cluster within its jurisdiction.
Official data from 2022 reveals that Shandong Port Group’s cargo handling capacity surpassed 1.6 billion metric tons, with its container handling capacity exceeding 37 million twenty-foot equivalent units.
Forecasts suggest that by mid-2025, the cargo handling capacity of the Shandong Port Group is anticipated to reach 2 billion tons, accompanied by a container handling capacity surpassing 40 million twenty-foot equivalent units.
