An aerial view of the Xiaomo International Logistics Port in Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone. Courtesy of Shenzhen transport bureau
The Xiaomo International Logistics Port in Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone officially opened the Xiaomo Port-Persian Gulf Liner Route with 215 Geely vehicles onboard the largest ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) vessel in China to the Middle East, an important node of the Maritime Silk Road.
This was the maiden voyage for Shenzhen’s automobile exports via ro-ro vessels, Shenzhen transport bureau said yesterday.
It marked Shenzhen Port’s solid progress in building two-way channels for automobile import and export, and is an important step for the port to engage in such business, according to the bureau.
The inspection facilities at the Xiaomo International Logistics Port passed checks and acceptance of Guangdong’s customs, commerce and maritime safety authorities two weeks ago and the port has now begun its international service.
Meanwhile, Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone is trying to build itself into an automobile industry hub and world-leading automobile zone through collaboration and business innovation. Enterprises up and down the automobile industry chain such as BYD, Dongfeng and Yanfeng International have settled in the special cooperation zone.
The Xiaomo port, which was put into operation in 2021, has opened its domestic and international ro-ro routes and will gradually have a contract with BYD on sea logistics business.
It will build a sea-rail combined transport mode-supported system to meet export demands from BYD factories in Changsha and Fuzhou, as well as exports of engineering and mechanical vehicles from Sany Heavy Industry and Zoomlion.
According to the port’s development plan, it will handle about 1 million vehicles annually for import and export, and it will explore trading in auto spare parts, frozen meats and aquatic products, as well as electronic products with a yearly throughput of 2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). It will also explore bulk transportation for sand, grains, coal and other pre-assembled materials with an estimated throughput of 4.5 million tons a year.