What is the Port of Shenzhen?

Article content: 

1. Basic Information about Shenzhen Port.
2. History of Shenzhen Port.
3. Why Shenzhen is so Popular.
4. Shenzhen — The Best Infrastructure Hub for Your Shipments.

The Chinese port complex of Shenzhen is rightfully considered one of the top ports in terms of development and cargo throughput. Moreover, for cargo recipients in Ukraine, this port, particularly the Shekou terminal from maritime service, is the closest to the port of Odessa, unlike the Guangzhou port, where containers arrive at the same Shekou terminal before heading to Ukraine, allowing for savings of transit time for our clients. And read here how to save more than just time.

Basic Information about Shenzhen Port

Shenzhen Port stretches across a deep-water area. Infrastructure facilities are located in the bays of:

• Yantian;
• Mawan;
• Chiwan;
• Shenzhen;
• Shihong;
• Fuyong;
• Heihe;
• Shekou;
• Xiayong;
• Dongjiaotou;
• Dachan.

On the territory of Shenzhen, 39 shipping line offices are located, transporting goods by sea.

Characteristics of the Port:

• Total number of berths – 140.
• 51 berths are designated for large vessels with a capacity of over 11,000 tons.
• Shenzhen offers its clients 21 feeder routes to other ports and regions belonging to the Pearl River Delta.
• The modern Shenzhen port cluster includes several ports. They serve the needs of Guangdong Province, its advanced infrastructure, and high-tech and knowledge-intensive industries.

The cluster includes the following ports:

• Yantian (better known as the “Eastern” port);
• Dachan Bay, Shekou, and Chiwan form the “Western” port.

Yantian specializes in maritime container shipping and is considered the center of Chinese exports. It handles ultra-large container ships that connect Shenzhen with North American and European markets. Low operational fees and high efficiency make it an ideal choice for export-oriented companies.

The Western port is a regional logistics hub. It serves regional and intra-Asian routes and is also a key node for feeder shipping.

Shenzhen Port stretches along 260 km of the city’s coastline. It is divided into Eastern and Western ports by new territories and the Kowloon Peninsula (Hong Kong).

History of Shenzhen Port

The history of the complex is symbolic — what was once a fishing village has now become a modern metropolis, often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of China” due to its role in the technological and manufacturing sectors.

The port was established in 1980 as part of Shenzhen’s new economic zone. Later, the city decided to develop “two ports” (Eastern and Western), which sparked large-scale construction and modernization. In the 2000s, the port began to develop combined rail-water transportation.

Currently, the development of the logistics hub continues, not only in the field of shipping:

• Reconstruction of Huanggang Port, the only 24-hour checkpoint between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The new port will reduce border crossing time for passengers from 30 minutes to 5 minutes. It will also free up land for the creation of high-tech zones and residential areas for “international talents.”
• Shenzhen is implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and “smart vision” technologies to monitor and optimize operations. Plans are in place to create fully automated port areas for accelerated cargo handling — the future is near.
• Strengthening infrastructure. New berths are being built (including in the Yantian international area). Yantian is expected to become a port area with the highest level of berth equipment.
• The Shenzhen city government is actively investing in projects. For example, in 2025, the city plans to accelerate the construction of 798 key projects with a total investment volume of 3.15 trillion yuan (about 434 billion USD).

Why Shenzhen is so Popular

A modern and efficiently operating port with a huge cargo turnover is one of the most successful in China:

• In 2022, container throughput exceeded 30 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), setting a record.
• In the first five months of 2025, container throughput reached 11.6 million TEU, up 14.6% from the same period the previous year.

Thanks to its advanced infrastructure and deep-water berths, Shenzhen handles large-tonnage ships and significant cargo volumes. However, this sometimes leads to temporary congestion, which can slightly delay international shipments.

Delivery of goods from China to Ukraine

Get more information

Shenzhen — The Best Infrastructure Hub for Your Shipments

Although maintaining a warehouse near Shenzhen Port, specifically at Shekou terminal, is more expensive than in Guangzhou or other feeder ports, it saves transit time. We understand that consolidated shipments should only be carried out via direct service to speed up cargo receipt.

That is why we organize sea freight specifically from Shenzhen Port. This provides our clients with numerous advantages:

• fast access to international sea routes in any direction;
• efficient cargo handling thanks to developed infrastructure;
• a business ecosystem with many shipping line options and other services.

Order reliable cargo transportation from China to Ukraine with DiFFreight — we guarantee speed, safety, and optimal logistics solutions for your business!