Ningbo Zhoushan Port demonstrates resilience amid trade challenges

Ningbo Zhoushan Port in east China's Zhejiang Province is demonstrating resilience in the face of U.S. tariffs by launching new trade routes and adapting swiftly to evolving market demands.

Ningbo, a hub for international trade, has further strengthened its position by embracing innovative solutions such as direct maritime routes and enhanced connectivity to Europe.

Building on this resilience, Ningbo Zhoushan Port unveiled the "China-Europe Express" in December 2024, a direct maritime route to Europe offering seamless "point-to-point" service. This innovation not only slashes shipment times but also reinforces the port's adaptability to global trade challenges.

"Previously, cargo shipped from Hefei City in east China to Europe went through the China-Europe Railway Express or traditional sea routes, which took about 40 days. Now, it only takes 27 days on the Anhui-Ningbo-Europe express route," said Gu Xuhui, marketing director for Zhejiang Seaport Logistics.

The express route connects the "China-Europe Express" with a freight railway from east China’s Anhui Province to facilitate more exporters.

Europe has become one of the major destinations for the port.

"Between January and April, we handled 1.31 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TUEs), up six to seven percentage points year on year," said He Binli, vice manager of Operations with Ningbo Daxie Container Terminal.

While the port is fully prepared for potential foreign trade fluctuations, exporters in the city are also shifting their focus to other markets.

Xu Ziyang, a seasoned medical equipment exporter, began preparing as early as 2017, driven by concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies towards China.

"[U.S. tariffs] have had little impact on us. In fact, we started adjusting back in 2017 to 2019, during his previous term. We aligned with China’s national strategy to expand into Belt and Road countries, as well as South American and African markets," said Xu, general manager of Ningbo Greeted Medical Instruments.

Xu’s sales jumped by 12 percent in 2024, and he expects continued growth this year.

Ningbo Zhoushan Port demonstrates resilience amid trade challenges

Villages in Thailand's Sisaket Province, which borders Cambodia, are quiet and empty after residents were evacuated to shelters.

With permission from the Thai military, a China Media Group (CMG) reporter entered the border conflict zone on Sunday and saw bullet holes scattered across residential buildings, as well as deep craters left by rocket and artillery fire.

"Villagers had been evacuated to shelters, leaving only us security personnel in the area," said Thai army Lieutenant General Patchakorn.

He added that civilians are not yet able to return home, citing the unstable security situation and ongoing hostilities.

Artillery fire could still be heard at the scene throughout the day. Thai military officials said the explosions were caused by Thai artillery strikes targeting Cambodian positions.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Sunday that Thai forces have taken control of nearly all targeted areas and are now compelling Cambodian forces to withdraw, adding that the areas are being closely monitored to prevent any renewed clashes.

The latest round of Thailand-Cambodia conflict, which reignited since Dec 7, has resulted in the deaths of 34 Thai civilians, Thai Ministry of Defense spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri told a press conference on Sunday.

The civilian death toll in Cambodia has risen to 19, Cambodia’s Defense Ministry said on the same day.

Thai border villages emptied as fighting with Cambodia leaves homes scarred