Ship and air traffic surge in Shanghai amid logistics push

As global trade shows signs of recovery and Asia strengthens its role in maritime logistics, Shanghai Port reported a record-breaking 23,000 international ship calls in the first half of 2025, according to city authorities.

The milestone reflects not only the resilience of China's supply chain infrastructure but also Shanghai's growing influence in global shipping and logistics.

The increase was led by gains across major categories: international cruise ships rose 2.6 percent, roll-on/roll-off vessels jumped 13.5 percent, and cruise ship arrivals surged by 80.1 percent year-on-year. Officials attributed the uptick to improvements in high-end shipping services and port handling efficiency.

In a sign of the city's growing technical capabilities, China's first-ever bonded ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation at a shipbuilding yard wharf was completed at the COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry terminal in Shanghai. The operation, which involved transferring LNG directly between vessels, shaved at least two days off the turnaround time of the container ship involved — saving more than $200,000 in charter costs.

The surge at sea was mirrored in the skies. Shanghai Pudong International Airport recorded strong growth in both passenger and flight volumes during the same period, fueled by the continued expansion of visa-free transit policies.

The airport recorded 18.26 million inbound and outbound passenger trips and more than 116,000 international flights, up 23.44 percent and 15.2 percent year-on-year, respectively.

Shanghai has also been ramping up its international connectivity. Newly launched or resumed routes, including direct flights to Shymkent in Kazakhstan and Manado in Indonesia, are now operational with the backing of Shanghai Customs.

Taken together, the figures underscore the city’s efforts to position itself as a global logistics hub, even as international tensions and economic uncertainty continue to shape global trade routes.