Ningbo Port: Auto Exports Surge in First Three Quarters; New Energy Vehicles Dominate, Emerging Markets Fuel Growth

Zhejiang Daily (By Li Hua, with contributions from Zhang Qingyun and He Yixing)– Early one recent morning, the Meishan Port Area of Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan was bustling with activity. Brand-new domestically manufactured vehicles were meticulously driven into containers. After being securely lashed and sealed, the containers were then steadily hoisted aboard ships, bound for international destinations like the UAE and the EU. This scene encapsulates Ningbo Port's continued robust growth in auto exports this year.

According to the latest statistics from Ningbo Customs, vehicle exports from Ningbo totaled 285,000 units in the first three quarters of this year, marking a 53.3%year-on-year increase. Among them, new energy vehicles were the dominant force, accounting for over 60% of these exports. The export market structure continued to improve, with the UAE, the EU, and Brazil retaining their positions as the top three markets. Exports to these regions reached 9.01 billion yuan, 3.22 billion yuan, and 3.14 billion yuan respectively, exhibiting substantial year-on-year growth of 224.2%, 457.6%, and 151.2%. Particularly impressive is that emerging markets such as Algeria and Morocco saw remarkable surges in export value, rising by 547.4% and 475.2% year-on-year, respectively.

"In the third quarter alone, the number of vehicles exported through our facility exceeded 78,000, representing a year-on-year increase of over 170%," said the manager of CITIC Gangtong International Logistics Co., Ltd., a key logistics platform for vehicles at Meishan Port.

To address the regulatory and service challenges brought by the surge in vehicle exports, Ningbo Customs adopted a proactive, multi-pronged approach. This involved, firstly, supporting ports in attracting new ro-ro shipping routes, facilitating the international transshipment of commercial vehicles via ro-ro vessels, and coordinating stakeholders to streamline operational procedures. Secondly, the Customs further enhanced its "one-stop supervision" model for containerized vehicle exports, refining best practices and promoting their wider application. This also included supporting Meixi Ro-Ro Terminal's pilot project for exporting vehicles in specialized frame containers, thereby helping enterprises with the inter-terminal transfer of these containers between ro-ro and standard container terminals.