Seatrade Maritime: Tianjin targets over RMB850bn in foreign trade in 2026

Since the commencement of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Tianjin Port has strengthened its pioneering role in reform and opening up, attracting a total of $26.3bn in actual foreign investment. Tianjin targets RMB850bn ($122bn) of foreign trade in 2026.

In 2025, the city implemented targeted measures to stabilise and expand foreign trade, achieving a year-on-year export growth of 10.1% and a 28.1% surge in cross-border e-commerce transaction volume, underscoring its dedication to advancing high-level opening up.

The port hub function of Tianjin continues to strengthen, with container throughput surpassing 24m teu.

To further integrate port operations, industries, and urban development, Tianjin will leverage its supportive policies for port-industry-city integration and capitalise on the clustering advantages of port and shipping resources to enhance the port’s overall capacity.

Efforts will prioritise the continuous upgrading of channels, docks, and yards, advancing the port’s smart transformation toward intelligent shipping services and expanding “zero-carbon” terminals into low-carbon port zones.

Collaboration with leading shipping companies will be intensified, targeting the establishment of 152 container shipping routes, the launch of the Tianjin International Multimodal Transport Company, and the operation of over 760 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains.

The port’s functions will be enhanced through integrated shipping, logistics, and value-added services to build controllable supply and value chains. Additionally, green marine energy development will be scaled up, clustering of shipping resources further promoted, and high-quality development of the cruise economy accelerated.