In the first full month of operation at the second 400000 ton ore terminal, the amount of imported iron ore from outside the port reached 4.8 million tons, and the monthly throughput of imported iron ore exceeded 7 million tons, setting a new historical record. This breakthrough marks a key leap for Qingdao Port in the field of dry bulk cargo unloading, and injects new momentum into the security of the national commodity supply chain and regional economic development.

Formation of dual engine pattern

As early as October 27, 2025, the second 400000 ton ore terminal of Qingdao Port was officially put into operation, forming a dual engine driven pattern with the original 400000 ton ore terminal. In the first month of production, the synergistic effect of the two major ports was fully released, helping Dongjiakou Port Area break historical records.

The achievement of this result is not accidental. For a long time, Qingdao Port, as an important iron ore import hub in China, has faced challenges such as tight berth resources and long waiting times for ships. With the commissioning of the second 400000 ton terminal, Qingdao Port has established a collaborative operation system of double 400000+multi terminal linkage, realizing the "double berth" direct docking of ultra large mining ships and effectively solving bottleneck constraints.

In the new mode, the double 400000 ton ore terminal focuses on unloading foreign trade ships of 300000 tons or more, while other berths focus on domestic trade transshipment and other businesses, forming an integrated operation pattern with clear functions and smooth connections. In just the first month of production, the average waiting time for ships in the port area has been reduced by more than 50%, berth turnover efficiency has been improved by 30%, and 7 400000 ton ultra large mining ships have been successfully unloaded.

Significant improvement in logistics efficiency

The commissioning of the new terminal has not only brought about an increase in quantity, but also promoted a qualitative transformation. Qingdao Port innovatively creates a direct logistics channel from the dock, yard, and factory area, relying on the advantages of a 3.5 million square meter large-scale yard in Dongjiakou Port Area, coupled with a 10500 ton/hour efficient belt conveyor process, to achieve seamless connection of the entire chain of ore unloading, storage, and loading.

This innovative model has shortened the cycle of ore unloading and delivery to surrounding steel mills by 1-2 days, significantly improving logistics efficiency. At the same time, Qingdao Port has partnered with Customs to create a smart supervision demonstration site and implement one-stop customs clearance services, resulting in an overall clearance efficiency improvement of over 30%.

Building the first intelligent dry bulk cargo terminal in China

As the first 400000 ton dry bulk cargo intelligent terminal in China, the application of new technologies has become the core engine for improving the efficiency of the new terminal. In response to the operational pain points of non standardized, dust prone, and variable forms of dry bulk cargo, the new terminal integrates cutting-edge technologies such as laser scanning, unmanned aerial vehicle surveying, and AI visual recognition to achieve real-time and accurate perception of the 3D shape, volume, and position of ores.

This technological breakthrough has successfully overcome industry technical difficulties such as anti shake and automatic alignment of large machines, making operations safer and more stable. At the same time, the new terminal deeply integrates technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence, and is equipped with a general operating system for dry bulk cargo terminals, which centrally schedules equipment data and instructions for all links such as ships, unloaders, stackers, and loaders.

Data shows that in the first month of production, full process automation has helped to improve comprehensive operational efficiency by more than 30%, and the equipment failure rate has significantly decreased. The double 400000 ton ore terminal is equipped with six 3500 ton/hour unloaders, which can achieve a maximum comprehensive ship time efficiency of 18000 tons. Large ships of 300000 tons or more do not need to reduce load or wait at anchor when berthing, greatly reducing the cost of ship demurrage.

Build the largest mineral supermarket in the country

The first-class hardware facilities and ultimate operational efficiency have quickly made the Double 400000 Wharf the preferred choice for domestic and foreign customers and steel mills. Qingdao Port not only provides efficient loading and unloading services, but also innovatively carries out mixed ore, bonded screening and other businesses to accurately meet the diverse needs of customers.

Currently, Qingdao Port is striving to build the largest ore supermarket in the country, providing customers with one-stop procurement, processing, and distribution services. With the mature operation of the new terminal, the annual throughput capacity of the double 400000 ton ore terminal will exceed 56 million tons, and the storage capacity will be increased by 10 million tons, forming a sea land railway three route port consolidation and distribution pattern.

What is even more remarkable is that the full process operation mode has achieved an 8% -10% reduction in the cost of single ship unloading, bringing tangible economic benefits to customers. This cost advantage, combined with high-quality service experience and efficient operational efficiency, is attracting more customers to choose Qingdao Port as their preferred port for ore imports.

Ensure the security of the national supply chain

The coordinated operation of Qingdao Port's dual 400000 ton ore terminal not only enhances the port's competitiveness, but also has profound strategic significance. As an important iron ore import hub in China, the efficiency improvement of Qingdao Port is directly related to the safety and stability of the national steel industry's raw material supply chain.

With the in-depth implementation of the the Belt and Road Initiative and the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, Qingdao Port has become an increasingly prominent international hub. The commissioning of the double 400000 ton terminal will further consolidate Qingdao Port's important position as a node in the global dry bulk transportation network and enhance China's discourse power in commodity trade. Keywords: Land Port International Logistics Network, Land Port News

Looking ahead to the future, Qingdao Port will continue to optimize its functional layout, promote the intelligent and green development of the port, and contribute to the construction of a world-class marine port. At the same time, the port will further strengthen its linkage with steel enterprises in the hinterland, build a more efficient, stable, and secure commodity supply chain system, and provide strong support for regional economic development and national strategic implementation.Editor/Cheng Liting