Tangshan Port
1. Port Overview
Tangshan Port is located in Tangshan City, Hebei Province, on the north shore of Bohai Bay. Its official positioning is "a main hub port for energy and raw materials serving major national strategies, a regional container shipping hub, a comprehensive trade port, and a bridgehead for opening to Northeast Asia." It is also China's largest port for unloading imported iron ore for foreign trade. This positioning needs to be understood accurately: Tangshan Port's scale is reflected in cargo tonnage—in 2025 it handled 884 million tonnes of cargo, ranking among the top coastal ports worldwide under the Ministry of Transport's port statistics; its container throughput that same year was 3.1713 million TEUs, around 18th to 19th nationwide. It is inaccurate to regard Tangshan Port as a "major container port."
The port's cargo mix explains this. Its leading cargo types are ore, coal, steel, and sand and gravel. It mainly serves the steel, energy, and building materials industries in the eastern Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, as well as energy-producing areas such as Shanxi and Inner Mongolia connected via the Daqin Railway and Qiancao Railway. Such cargo is transported by bulk carriers and does not go through containers. Containers are a supporting player at Tangshan Port; the corresponding official positioning is a "regional container shipping hub."
Statistics under the Ministry of Transport's port scope show that in 2025 Tangshan Port handled 884 million tonnes of cargo, a year-on-year increase of about 2.5%, of which foreign-trade cargo was 382 million tonnes; container throughput was 3.1713 million TEUs, a year-on-year increase of about 16.6%. In 2024, Tangshan Port's cargo throughput was 862 million tonnes, of which the Caofeidian Port Area accounted for about 557 million tonnes and the Jingtang Port Area about 305 million tonnes.
Regarding the online claim that it is the "world's second-largest port," two points need clarification. First, the statistical scope: Tangshan Port's cargo throughput ranking is based on the Ministry of Transport's port scope, which differs from the practice of some institutions that include inland river ports in their statistics. Second, the time point: in several years Tangshan Port ranked second among coastal ports under this scope, but in 2025 Shanghai Port overtook it with 892 million tonnes (including inland river scope), and Tangshan fell to third place. Therefore, it should not be written as "firmly ranked second in the world"; when citing, the year and statistical scope must be given. In addition, the claim that "Tangshan Port's cargo throughput exceeds 500 million tonnes" is outdated and a serious underestimate; the actual scale is above 800 million tonnes.
2. Port Scale and Facilities
The port area layout of Tangshan Port is "one port, three areas": the Jingtang Port Area, the Caofeidian Port Area, and the Fengnan Port Area under construction. At the Hebei provincial level, it is coordinated as "three ports, four areas," namely Qinhuangdao Port, the Tangshan Port Jingtang Port Area, the Tangshan Port Caofeidian Port Area, and Huanghua Port.
- Jingtang Port Area: It handles container functions and is positioned as a regional container shipping hub; it has 5 specialized container berths, a designed annual throughput capacity of 2.41 million TEUs, and a navigation channel class of 250,000 DWT; it has about 40 to 47 domestic and foreign trade container routes. Berth No. 25 of the Jingtang Port Area container terminal was completed in October 2023. It is Hebei Province's first fully automated container berth, uses the domestically produced Container Terminal Operating System (GTOS), achieves full-process unmanned operation and remote control, and officially opened to the outside world in February 2025
- Caofeidian Port Area: A large comprehensive deep-water port area, mainly focused on bulk cargo and port-adjacent industries. The deep trench in front of Caofeidian is about 36 meters deep, and a natural waterway leads directly to the Yellow Sea. It is one of the few natural port sites along the Bohai coast where large berths can be built without dredging navigation channels and harbor basins; of the only 7 berths nationwide that can accommodate 400,000-ton-class ore carriers, Caofeidian has 2. The Caofeidian Port Area has long lacked specialized container terminals, and container operations are carried out at general or multipurpose berths, with limited capacity
- Fengnan Port Area: Under construction
As of the end of 2024, Tangshan Port had 88 berths open to the outside world. The main operator of its container business is Tangshan Port Hede Shipping Co., Ltd. According to public information, it ranks among the leading global liner companies in terms of the size of the domestic and foreign trade container fleet it operates. It should be noted that the container business of Tangshan Port Group Co., Ltd. was divested from the listed company in September 2021. Therefore, the throughput figures in the listed company's annual report do not equal the container throughput of the entire port, and the scope must be specified when citing them.
The number of berths, navigation channel class, and designed throughput capacity will be adjusted with engineering changes. The current data published by the port administrative authorities and terminal operators shall prevail.
3. Main Routes
3.1 Domestic Coastal Routes
Tangshan Port's domestic trade container routes cover the Bohai Rim, East China, and South China directions, and are mainly organized around the Jingtang Port area:
| Direction | Main routes | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bohai Rim and Southwest Coast | Jingtang–Tianjin–Qinzhou | Domestic trade container route |
| South China | Jingtang–Shanghai–Nansha, Jingtang–Humen | Via East China or direct to South China |
| East China | Jingtang–Ningbo | Domestic trade container route |
All of Tangshan Port's domestic trade container routes have the qualification for same-vessel transport of domestic and foreign trade cargo. This qualification allows the same vessel to carry both domestic and foreign trade cargo at the same time, which helps with sailing frequency and space utilization. In the bulk cargo sector, coastal shipping is mainly focused on "north-to-south coal transport" and iron ore and steel, with volumes far larger than containers.
The table above lists the main domestic trade container routes of Tangshan Port. Reference sailing times are subject to the shipping company's current schedule. Tangshan Port is overall dominated by bulk cargo, and the number and density of its container routes are lower than those of other major ports around the Bohai Rim. Before shipping, please confirm with us the current direct sailing situation at the destination port.
3.2 Main International Routes
Tangshan Port's international container routes take Japan and South Korea as their core base and are gradually extending to Southeast Asia and deep-sea routes:
| Direction | Main Ports of Call | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Japan and South Korea | Busan, Pyeongtaek, Incheon, and Japan's Kanto, Kansai, and Kyushu | Covers 10 base ports and 26 outports in Japan and South Korea, with relatively high density |
| Southeast Asia | Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, Bangkok, Laem Chabang | Transshipment via Guangzhou Nansha and other ports; first Southeast Asia route launched in 2023 |
| India/Pakistan and the Middle East | India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, etc. | Transshipment via Shanghai, Ningbo, etc. |
| Deep-sea | U.S. West Coast | Deep-sea express service launched in 2024 under the same-vessel domestic and foreign trade route arrangement |
According to publicly available information, Tangshan Port has more than 230 maritime cargo routes, reaching more than 80 countries and regions and more than 200 ports. Its international container routes are mainly near-sea routes, while deep-sea routes mostly transship via domestic hub ports.
Specific sailing schedules, port calls, and transshipment arrangements are subject to booking confirmation. Tangshan Port's container routes are adjusted relatively frequently; before shipment, we recommend checking the current sailing schedule with us.
4. Hinterland and Cargo Mix
Tangshan Port’s hinterland covers Tangshan, Qinhuangdao, and other eastern parts of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and it connects to energy-producing areas such as Shanxi and Inner Mongolia via the Daqin Railway and Qiancao Railway. It is the main seaport for coal, iron ore, and steel in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region:
- Export from Tangshan Port (shipping out): steel, coal
- Import at Tangshan Port (landing): iron ore, crude oil
The dominant cargo types are ore, coal, steel, and sand and gravel, with iron ore holding the most prominent position—Tangshan Port is China’s largest unloading port for foreign-trade imported iron ore, and according to public data, its foreign-trade imported iron ore unloading volume accounts for about 23.62% of the national coastal total. This cargo mix matches the port’s deep-water berth capacity: the natural deepwater channel conditions in the Caofeidian Port Area are suitable for large bulk carriers, and the unloading efficiency for iron ore and crude oil is relatively high; the Jingtang Port Area handles containers and some breakbulk and miscellaneous cargo.
Cargo suitable for transport via Tangshan Port: bulk cargo such as steel, coal, ore, and sand and gravel is carried by bulk carriers and is Tangshan Port’s main business; containerized cargo is mainly regional domestic trade and short-sea routes to Japan and South Korea, suitable for the domestic trade needs of the eastern Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region for the Bohai Rim, East China, and South China; containerized cargo for ocean-going destinations usually requires transshipment, and transit time arrangements should include transshipment time.
Bofeng Logistics Experience Sharing: Tangshan Port’s cargo mix determines how it is used. If the cargo is bulk cargo such as steel or ore, Tangshan Port’s deep-water berths and yard capacity are a real advantage, especially since Caofeidian’s natural deepwater channel conditions can reduce waiting for tides and lightening operations; if the cargo is containerized, first check the destination port—domestic trade to East China and South China and short-sea routes to Japan and South Korea have relatively mature direct services, while routes to Europe and America usually require transshipment via a domestic hub port, adding one more leg. Our common approach when handling Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cargo is to judge in two steps: first determine by cargo type whether to use Tangshan, then determine by destination port whether it is direct or transshipment. Calculate both parts clearly before quoting a plan, so as to avoid the situation of “choosing the right port but the destination port has no direct service.”
5. Operational Notes
When operating at Tangshan Port, special attention must be paid to two aspects: sea ice and operating areas. Regarding sea ice, the waters near Jingtang Port Area have an average annual ice period of about 80 days, with an initial ice period of about 40 days, a severe ice period of about 25 days, and a melting ice period of about 15 days. Over the years, the first ice day has been in mid-December, the severe ice day in mid-January, and the final ice day in late February; throughout the year, the harbor basin and navigation channels do not freeze over, and normal navigation is still possible even in the coldest January, so in ordinary years there is basically no impact on shipping. Caofeidian Port Area belongs to the Bohai Bay drift ice zone with Grade 5 ice conditions. In ordinary years, the freezing period runs from early December to late February, with January and February being the peak ice period. Sea ice affects port operations for no fewer than 10 days each year, and in particularly severe years it may exceed 30 days. In recent years, ice conditions along the Tangshan coast have all been light ice years, but for winter shipments we still recommend confirming the current ice conditions and vessel schedule arrangements with us.
Regarding operating areas, Tangshan Port's container and bulk cargo operations are located in different port areas. The overland distance between Jingtang Port Area and Caofeidian Port Area is relatively long, so before arranging drayage and port delivery, the specific operating port area must be confirmed to avoid vehicles going to the wrong location. In addition, dangerous goods in Caofeidian Port Area must be handled at designated terminals and must be declared in advance when booking.
The free container usage period is usually subject to the regulations of the shipping line and terminal; exceeding it will incur container detention fees.
FAQ
Q: Is Tangshan Port a major container port?
Answer: No. The scale of Tangshan Port is reflected in its cargo tonnage. In 2025, its cargo throughput was 884 million tonnes, ranking among the top coastal ports worldwide according to the Ministry of Transport’s port statistical scope; in the same year, its container throughput was 3.1713 million TEUs, ranking about 18th to 19th nationwide. In the port’s official positioning, containers correspond to a "regional container shipping hub"; the Jingtang Port Area fulfills this function, while the Caofeidian Port Area focuses mainly on bulk cargo.
Q: What is the cargo throughput of Tangshan Port?
Answer: According to the Ministry of Transport and Tangshan official figures, Tangshan Port’s cargo throughput in 2025 was 884 million tonnes, up about 2.5% year on year; in 2024 it was 862 million tonnes, with Caofeidian Port Area at about 557 million tonnes and Jingtang Port Area at about 305 million tonnes. The online claim of “over 500 million tonnes” is outdated and a serious underestimate. Two more points require attention: First, the 230 million to 242 million tonnes announced by Tangshan Port Group Co., Ltd. is only the volume for Jingtang Port Area, not the throughput of the whole port; second, the ranking of coastal ports by cargo throughput changes with the year. In 2025, Shanghai Port overtook Tangshan with 892 million tonnes (including inland waterway figures), so when citing rankings, the year and statistical scope must be specified.
Q: Will shipping from Tangshan Port be affected by sea ice in winter?
Answer: It depends on the port area. The Jingtang Port Area has no freezing in its harbor basin and navigation channel throughout the year, and normal navigation is still possible even in the coldest January; in ordinary years, it has basically no impact on shipping. The Caofeidian Port Area experiences some ice conditions every winter, and the number of days when sea ice affects operations is usually no less than 10 days, and in particularly severe years may exceed 30 days; in recent years, all have been light ice years. Before shipping goods in winter, we recommend confirming with us the current ice conditions and vessel schedule arrangements.
6. Bofeng Logistics Services
Bofeng Logistics provides the following services at Tangshan Port:
- Domestic Shipping: Domestic trade container transport to/from the Bohai Rim, East China, and South China, with both FCL and LCL available
- Full Container Load (FCL): Standard container types such as 20GP, 40GP, and 40HQ; both port-to-port and door-to-door available
- Bulk and Breakbulk Cargo Coordination: Bulk vessels and yard arrangements for steel, sand and gravel, and other bulk cargoes
- Customs Declaration and Warehousing: Export customs declaration, commodity inspection documentation, warehouse storage and distribution, and bulk cargo yard coordination
- Value-added Services: Cargo insurance, labeling and sorting, winter ice conditions and vessel schedule verification, and destination port delivery coordination
Service Features: Cargo is routed by category, with bulk cargo and containers matched separately to port areas and vessel types; we are familiar with the operational differences between the Jingtang Port Area and the Caofeidian Port Area, and can confirm the specific operating port area with customers before arranging trucks; winter shipments can be rescheduled based on an assessment of current ice conditions.
📍 Welcome to contact us for real-time freight rates.
Further Reading
- Domestic Ocean Shipping Services: FCL and LCL solutions for domestic coastal container transportation
- International Ocean Export Services: FCL and LCL export ocean shipping solutions
- Guide to Major Chinese Ports: Comparison of the positioning and route characteristics of major domestic container ports
Related ports: Tianjin Port | Qingdao Port | Yingkou Port
Prepared by the Bofeng Logistics team; content reviewed in September 2026. Port throughput and facility data are based on official releases from port authorities and terminal operators, and figures may differ between sources. Schedules and documentation requirements are subject to booking confirmation.