A container ship operated by a Ningbo company. [Photo/Yongpai App]

The port sector in Ningbo posted an impressive performance in the first quarter of the year, with both cargo and container volumes achieving steady growth.

At Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, total cargo throughput reached 370 million metric tons, up 4.1 percent year-on-year, while container throughput rose 14.7 percent to 11.55 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Within the Ningbo port area alone, cargo throughput climbed 7.5 percent to 180 million tons, while container volume increased 12.5 percent to 10.19 million TEUs.

Behind the strong figures lies improved coordination by transport authorities, which optimized berth allocation, yard usage, and shipping schedules to ensure efficient port operations. Priority policies were also implemented for key commodities such as crude oil and iron ore, both exceeding 10 million tons in throughput, helping stabilize industrial and supply chains across the Yangtze River Delta.

The port also saw a surge in automotive exports. Supported by targeted incentives, roll-on/roll-off shipments of vehicles reached 80,000 units, soaring 96.1 percent year-on-year.

Infrastructure upgrades and business environment improvements further strengthened growth momentum. Key projects progressed steadily, while sea-rail intermodal transport handled 507,000 TEUs, enhancing inland connectivity.

Meanwhile, green transformation efforts advanced, including LNG bunkering and the region's first cross-regional bonded biofuel refueling operation.