Photo: Global Times

The just-concluded China's Central Economic Work Conference said that "2025 is a truly extraordinary year." This year, amid an increasingly complex and challenging external environment, how have China's ports, as a crucial gateway to observing China's economic growth, stabilized operations under pressure and maintained resilience amid change? What new changes and trends have emerged in the operation of China's ports, which serve as front-line hubs of foreign trade?

Since the beginning of 2025, Global Times carried out year-long field research at coastal ports across China, engaging with front-line companies to assess port operations. Based on follow-up studies at key ports, along with expert interviews and public data analysis, it produced the 2025 Annual Report on the Vitality, Resilience, and Development Confidence of China's Ports.

The report shows that in 2025, China's ports actively responded to complex domestic and international changes, maintaining efficient and stable operations and providing strong support for global supply chains. Affected by fluctuations in China-US trade, ports adopted region-specific and differentiated development approaches, fully demonstrating their resilience and flexibility in responding to market changes.

Here are the highlights of the report:

Part I Vitality: Coastal ports achieve an overall positive trend in cargo throughput growth with bustling activities despite multiple pressures

Part II Resilience: China-US trade fluctuations have limited impact on coastal ports; ports expand their 'circle of trade partners'

Part III Development: Coastal ports accelerate digital transformation in 2025; cross-border e-commerce and multimodal transport boost growth

Part IV Confidence: China's ports steadily support global supply chains; 'port + free trade' creates new opportunities

Based on comprehensive interviews, China's coastal ports said they maintained stable operations in 2025 amid a complex external environment, while further enhancing overall capabilities through intelligent upgrades, new business development, and strengthened international cooperation. Looking ahead to 2026, key projects are expected to advance steadily, with ports accelerating the construction of efficient, innovative, and sustainable global supply-chain hubs.

As China continues to advance high-level opening-up, ports will remain pivotal. 2026 marks the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan. The Global Times will further deepen and broaden its coverage to tell the world the story of high-quality development in China's ports and marine economy.

Full text: 2025 Global Times Annual Report: Vitality, Resilience, and Development Confidence of Chinese ports
全文: 《2025中国港口活力韧性与发展信心年度报告》