Yantai Port sets new record for China-Africa break-bulk cargo volume

A carrier loaded with 558 machinery vehicles and complete sets of construction building materials recently set sail from Yantai Port of Shandong Port Group (SPG), bound for Ghana in Africa.

A gantry crane at Yantai Port loads machinery vehicles onto the vessel. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

This marks a historic milestone for Yantai Port, as its annual maritime traffic on the China-Africa break-bulk liner service has exceeded six million metric tons for the first time. It surpassed last year's annual capacity of 5.81 million tons four months ahead of schedule, representing a year-on-year increase of 66.1 percent.

This has enabled the port to further streamline a two-way trade corridor connecting Chinese-made products with global markets, while also meeting Africa's development needs and supporting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

Amid Africa's strong demand for port equipment, engineering machinery and energy equipment in recent years, a large number of engineering products and project materials were transported to the port to be exported.

As a break-bulk base of SPG and a break-bulk logistics hub in northern China, Yantai Port has taken advantage of government policies and market opportunities to open four new services linking Yantai to Algeria, Dakar, Namibia and Djibouti in 2026. It has successfully created a transport corridor linking China to over 20 African countries and regions, helping to deepen China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.

The year 2026 marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30) and the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Africa. As the first Chinese port to build a port in Africa, Yantai Port has aligned its services with the economic needs of African nations, promoting a shipping model in which vessels import bauxite from Africa and carry break-bulk exports on the return journey.

According to customs statistics, the two-way aggregate throughput hit 44.81 million tons during the period from January to July, rising 23.5 percent year on year. It exceeded the 40-million-ton threshold two months earlier than last year, maintaining its position as China's top port for trade exchanges with Africa.