The world's largest enterprise in terms of cargo throughput, handling 1.7 billion tons.

China is the world's largest manufacturing country, often referred to as the "world's factory."

Every year, a massive amount of global raw materials are finely processed in China, becoming "Made in China" products that continuously flow into global markets.

This enormous demand for cargo transportation has made China the country with the highest port cargo throughput in the world.

In 2023, China's cargo throughput reached 16.973 billion tons, and container throughput reached 310 million TEUs, giving rise to many domestic star ports.

Notably, among the top ten ports in China by cargo throughput, Shandong Province holds three spots: Qingdao Port (4th in the nation), Rizhao Port (6th in the nation), and Yantai Port (9th in the nation).

These three ports are all managed by the same company, the Shandong Port Group, headquartered in Qingdao City.

So, what is the origin of the Shandong Port Group? Let's delve into it today!

Before 2019, the major ports in Shandong Province operated independently and each had considerable strength.

In 2019, Shandong Province integrated its coastal city port resources, forming a large provincial enterprise—the Shandong Port Group, with its headquarters in Qingdao, the largest city in Shandong Province.

Currently, Shandong Port Group includes Qingdao Port Group, Yantai Port Group, Rizhao Port Group, and Bohai Bay Port Group, and it owns three listed companies (Qingdao Port, Rizhao Port, Rizhao Port Jurong).

Among them, Weihai Port is part of Qingdao Port Group, while Binzhou Port, Dongying Port, and Weifang Port are part of Bohai Bay Port Group.

Thus, Shandong Port Group has integrated nearly all major marine ports in Shandong Province, with 21 port areas, over 330 production berths, and more than 300 routes connecting major global ports.

Shandong Province is the top economic and populous province in northern China, with its economic output ranking third in the nation.

Shandong has strong manufacturing capabilities in coal, petrochemicals, metal smelting, machinery manufacturing, and other fields, creating enormous demand for maritime transportation.

For example, companies like Shandong Energy Group, Shandong Iron and Steel Group, Qingdao Refining, and Qilu Petrochemical have substantial transportation needs for coal, iron ore, crude oil, and other products, providing significant growth opportunities for Shandong Port Group.

Data shows that in 2023, Shandong Port Group's port cargo throughput reached 1.71 billion tons, and container throughput reached 41.32 million TEUs, ranking first and second globally among port groups (surpassing Singapore Port Group).

Last year, the company's total operating revenue exceeded 155 billion yuan, with total profits reaching 10.46 billion yuan, demonstrating its formidable strength.

In fact, as a large conglomerate, Shandong Port Group's business is not limited to port operations but extends into a comprehensive industrial group centered around ports.

Currently, Shandong Port Group's business spans finance, port construction, ocean shipping, equipment manufacturing, cultural tourism, trade, and healthcare, among other fields.

For instance, in equipment manufacturing, Shandong Port Group has specialized companies like Qingdao Port Machinery, Rizhao Ship Machinery, and Yantai Port Machinery, which can produce container handling machinery, port gantry cranes, continuous handling machinery, and offshore and shipbuilding cranes.

Additionally, Shandong Port Group's financial segment has 13 types of financial licenses and qualifications, with subsidiaries in finance, futures brokerage, insurance agency, insurance brokerage, leasing, and commercial factoring, providing financial services to the group and its upstream and downstream industrial chains.

As the saying goes, "To prosper, build roads first." Since ancient times, smooth cargo transportation has been a core factor driving regional economic development.

Since humanity entered the era of ocean shipping, coastal regions have developed much faster than inland areas.

Shandong Province, as a beneficiary of China's maritime economy, has its most economically developed areas concentrated in the coastal Jiaodong region.

Shandong Port Group has played a foundational role in Shandong's economic development.

It provides the essential raw material inputs and industrial product outputs for Shandong's economic growth.

This convenient shipping route has significantly supported the development of Shandong's petroleum, chemical, steel, machinery, coal, grain, and oil industries.

At the same time, as the world's largest port group company, Shandong Port Group provides a large number of high-quality jobs for its headquarters and cities where its industries are located.

These jobs include grassroots positions in terminal loading and unloading, equipment manufacturing, and high-end management positions at the headquarters.

Thousands and tens of thousands of Shandong residents have thus achieved employment close to home, showcasing enormous social value.