Shanghai Pudong New Area accelerates the creation of a new global high ground for shipping resource allocation.

In 2025, the container throughput of Shanghai Pudong New Area's ports exceeded 50 million TEUs, helping Shanghai Port rank first in the world for 16 consecutive years; Shanghai Pudong International Airport achieved a cargo and mail throughput of 4.0959 million tons, ranking second globally for two consecutive years and accounting for 90.2% of the city's total; it handled 84.9944 million passenger trips, accounting for 62.9% of the city's total. In July 2026, the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index showed that Shanghai surpassed London for the first time, climbing to second place globally, with Pudong playing a significant core supporting role.

Looking ahead to the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan", Pudong, as the core area of Shanghai's International Shipping Center, is advancing steadily and accelerating the creation of a new global high ground for shipping resource allocation. Recently, Shanghai's Pudong New Area issued the "Pudong New Area Plan for Accelerating the Construction of the Core Area of the International Shipping Center during the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). The "Plan" proposes that by 2030, Pudong New Area will have basically built a core area of the international shipping center with globally leading gateway hub capabilities, diversified integration of advanced industrial systems, convenient and efficient high-end shipping services, systematic integration of reform and innovation legislation, and significantly improved global shipping resource allocation capabilities.

By 2030, the plan to basically achieve five goals

The "Plan" clarifies that guided by the national strategy, driven by reform and opening, and led by scientific and technological innovation, Pudong will fully leverage the collaborative advantages of the "five centers", coordinate high-quality development and high-level safety in shipping, align the shipping industry system with critical strategic needs, enhance quality and efficiency, improve services, expand networks, construct a multi-dimensional shipping service ecosystem, develop new qualities in shipping productivity, tailored to local characteristics, and support Pudong New Area in playing a leading and exemplary role in China's modernization process.

By 2030, Pudong New Area will have basically built a core area of the international shipping center with globally leading gateway hub capabilities, diversified integration of advanced industrial systems, convenient and efficient high-end shipping services, systematic integration of reform and innovation legislation, and significantly improved global shipping resource allocation capabilities.

Specific goals include: achieving a container throughput of 52 million TEUs at Pudong port, maintaining a 90% share of the city's total; reaching 4.2 million tons of cargo and mail throughput at Pudong International Airport, maintaining a 90% share of the city's total, and 92 million passenger trips; achieving a revenue of 400 billion yuan in the high-end shipping service industry; attaining a cumulative scale of 690 billion yuan in aircraft and ship financial leasing assets; completing 100 application scenarios for the digital and green transformation of shipping over five years, with 4.5 million square meters of high-standard warehouse space, 150 foreign maritime arbitration cases, attracting 100 high-level shipping enterprises and institutions, completing 2-3 innovations in shipping legislative standards, and introducing 100 high-end shipping talents.

Systematically advancing four key tasks

The "Plan" identifies four key tasks around which related work will be systematically advanced.

First, improve spatial facilities to create a new benchmark for international shipping hubs. Strengthen global sea transport hubs, enhance the capabilities of Yangshan Deepwater Port and Waigaoqiao Port, and improve the sea-rail combined transport network; upgrade aviation hub capabilities, advance the fourth-phase expansion of Pudong Airport, and establish an international route network of "one loop, six corridors, five passages"; build integrated production and city hubs, accelerate the construction of the Eastern Hub and Shanghai East Station, and create an international hub economic zone.

Second, accelerate transformative development to construct a new ecosystem of intelligent and green industries. Deepen the integration of shipping and trade digitization, promote scenarios such as electronic bills of lading and electronic delivery based on blockchain applications; expand intelligent innovation, develop smart ships and smart ports, and accelerate smart shipping development; improve green systems, create green ports and airports, and support green energy ship and port fueling services; upgrade logistics, increase high-standard warehousing, and construct logistics facilities tailored to key industries; cultivate the cruise and large aircraft ecosystem, improve the cruise shipbuilding supply chain, and extend the large aircraft industry chain.

Third, leverage synergy advantages to build a new system of high-end shipping services. Expand shipping finance, develop financial leasing, facilitate cross-border capital, and innovate products like shipping index futures; enhance shipping insurance, strengthen global underwriting capabilities, and innovate products and models; establish a preferred destination for resolving international maritime disputes, enhance judicial protection, innovate arbitration, and improve diverse dispute resolution systems; support shipping brokerage and ship management, and expand the scale of factor transactions; encourage enterprises to go global and support collaborative supply chain internationalization.

Fourth, adhere to innovation-driven development to construct a new high ground for high-level shipping openness. Gather high-level entities and attract lead enterprises and emerging formats; implement institutional openness, improve transshipment consolidation, establish international shipping registration ports, and innovate customs and maritime supervision; promote legislation and standards, focusing on intelligent shipping and low-altitude economy legislation, and participate in the formulation of industry standards; enhance talent competitiveness, attract and train high-end talent, and improve support systems; enhance platform influence, promote shipping culture, and continue to build the "Shanghai Pudong International Shipping Week" brand.

Pioneering in fields such as intelligent shipping

The "Plan" emphasizes institutional innovation and system integration. Leveraging the advantages of legislative authorization in pilot areas and institutional innovation in the Pilot Free Trade Zone, Pudong will take the lead in fields such as intelligent shipping, green vessels, and maritime arbitration. Previously, the country's first local regulation specifically standardizing blockchain-enabled electronic document applications has been introduced, along with provisions for ensuring the supply of medicines and medical devices for international navigation vessels. During the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan" period, application scenarios such as electronic bills of lading and electronic delivery will be expanded and improved to enhance and scale up shipping digitalization.

At the same time, the "Plan" strengthens the linkage of the "five centers" and leverages the foundational logistical supply chain services of the core area of the International Shipping Center for other core areas. It implements a city-district coordination mechanism, enhancing cross-departmental and cross-domain collaboration to jointly promote major shipping reforms and the implementation of significant projects; improves government service efficiency, enhances the policy support system, and supports enterprises throughout their lifecycle in aspects like production, academia, research, application, finance, and human resources; optimizes evaluation and assurance by aligning the "Plan" objectives with annual work plans, conducting timely phase evaluations; emphasizes the concept of safe development, enhances supply chain resilience, and improves the ability to address shipping risks.

By 2030, with the implementation of the "Plan," Pudong will further consolidate its position as a global shipping hub, enhance the capabilities of high-end shipping services, and strengthen its ability for global shipping resource allocation, providing a solid core support for Shanghai to fully establish itself as an international shipping center.