A view of Ningbo Zhoushan Port in East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Ningbo Zhoushan Port, a crucial gateway for China's foreign trade, is poised to maintain its position as the world's busiest port in terms of cargo throughput in 2023, extending its winning streak to 15 consecutive years, according to local authorities.

Located in East China's Zhejiang province, the port handled 1.32 billion metric tons of cargo in the past year, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 5 percent, as revealed by the Zhejiang Provincial Port and Shipping Management Center on Jan 10.

Over the same period, the port achieved a container throughput of 35.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), reflecting a 6 percent uptick compared to the previous year.

The growth in both cargo and container throughput can be attributed, in part, to the port's continuous efforts to enhance its multimodal transportation system, which includes sea-rail, river-sea, and sea-river transportation. As an example, the port has launched 25 sea-rail intermodal routes serving 65 cities across 16 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China.

By the end of 2023, Ningbo Zhoushan Port had established an extensive network of more than 300 container shipping routes, including 130 routes to countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. This initiative, launched by China, aims to enhance connectivity and cooperation among nations along historical Silk Road routes.

With its extensive network of shipping routes, the port currently connects over 600 ports across 200 countries and regions, solidifying its position as a pivotal global hub for maritime logistics, strategic resource allocation, and modern shipping services.