The 1 millionth TEU of 2025 is lifted at Beilun Port Rail Terminal. [Photo by Sun Jiajun for Ningbo Daily]

Beilun Port Rail Terminal at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has become the first rail terminal in China to surpass 1 million TEUs in annual container throughput, marking a significant milestone in the development of the country's rail-sea logistics network.

On the afternoon of Dec 3, a container train fully loaded with small commodities from Yiwu arrived at Beilun Port Rail Terminal, pushing its annual throughput past the one-million-TEU mark. Beilun Port Rail Terminal is the largest rail container hub at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and serves as a key node in the port's integrated logistics operations.

The terminal has grown steadily since receiving its first container train in 2009. Annual throughput first exceeded 100,000 TEUs in 2014, surged after six additional operational tracks were added in 2017, and reached 800,000 TEUs by 2019, maintaining this level for six consecutive years.

This year's breakthrough sets a national benchmark for rail terminal container handling, reinforcing supply chain and cargo distribution capabilities across the Yangtze River Delta region and nationwide.