On September 20, the north empty-container yard of the Yiwu (Suxi) International Hub—a core supporting facility of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port's "Sixth Port Area"—officially opened. The 100-mu (about 6.7-hectare) yard is equipped with smart gates and repair/inspection functions and can store more than 5,000 TEU of empty containers.
The yard links with Yiwu Port's existing empty-container storage to build an integrated container service system, improving storage, turnover and allocation of empties and easing the current tight container demand for local exporters. Yiwu Port has expanded its cooperation network to 27 shipping lines—including Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express, CULines and Zhonggu—and opened a terminal container-shuttle function.
In August, Yiwu Port's pick-up and return business exceeded 20,000 TEU, up 65% year on year, a single-month record. Return empties from China-Europe railway lines of carriers such as SITC, MSC and Maersk can now be dropped off locally, compressing clients' pick-up/return time and overall logistics cost.
Officials said the yard strengthens Yiwu's role as a "port at the doorstep," supporting the city's push to become a public-rail dual-use empty-container hub for central and western Zhejiang.
Source: The Paper / Yiwu Port
