Missão Porto & Mar visits ZPMC, maritime logistics giant in China

Brazilian delegation experienced the massive industrial structure of ZPMC (Alexandre Lopes/AT)

Few companies in the world contribute as significantly to global maritime trade as Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company (ZPMC). And the fourth day of Missão Internacional Porto & Mar 2026, organized by Grupo Tribuna, provided the Brazilian delegation, this Wednesday (27), in Shanghai, with an immersive experience inside the company, considered one of the most strategic players in global logistics.

In one of the most impactful agendas of the mission so far, business leaders, executives, and authorities visited ZPMC, the world’s largest manufacturer of port equipment and the company responsible for structures used in maritime terminals across dozens of countries, including Brazil.

Upon arrival, members of the delegation were faced with a scene of gigantic proportions. Metallic structures resembling industrial buildings, monumental port equipment under construction, and large-scale assembly lines helped illustrate the sheer scale of the Chinese company’s operations.

At several moments, the visitors felt dwarfed by the massive structures produced by ZPMC. The visit included a meeting with the company’s top leadership, marked by discussions on the international port scenario, investment prospects, and business opportunities involving the Brazilian market.

The presence of business executives directly connected to the port and logistics sectors gave even greater relevance to the meeting, especially considering the strong commercial relationship already established between ZPMC and Brazilian terminals. Currently, equipment manufactured by the company operates in several ports across the country, including terminals connected to Porto de Santos — the largest port complex in the Southern Hemisphere.

In addition to learning about ZPMC’s entire assembly line, the Brazilians also had access to the company’s technology sector (Alexandre Lopes/AT)

World leader

Founded in 1992 and controlled by the state-owned group China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), ZPMC has established itself as the global leader in the manufacturing of port handling equipment. The company supplies structures to more than 100 countries and holds approximately 70% of the global market for ship-to-shore cranes used in major maritime terminals.

Among the company’s main products are the gigantic STS cranes used for container operations on large vessels, as well as automated RTGs, smart terminal structures, and integrated port automation solutions.

Throughout the visit, mission participants closely followed part of the construction process of these pieces of equipment, some of which are dozens of meters high and designed to operate in some of the world’s largest ports.

The company also presented solutions focused on terminal digitalization, logistics integration, intelligent operations control, and port automation — areas considered strategic for the future of the international maritime sector.

Meeting between Missão Internacional Porto & Mar 2026 and the management of the Chinese company addressed investment prospects and opportunities in Brazil (Alexandre Lopes/AT)

Integration

The agenda reinforced one of the central themes of Missão Porto & Mar 2026: understanding how China has been integrating infrastructure, technology, industrial capacity, and global strategy to expand competitiveness in international maritime trade.

In addition to the industrial immersion, the visit also had a strong business component. Brazilian entrepreneurs strengthened commercial relationships and discussed future possibilities for investments and operational expansion involving the national market.

TV Tribuna CEO Roberto Clemente Santini received an institutional gift from ZPMC Vice President Shen Qiuyuan (Alexandre Lopes/AT)

Acknowledgment

At the end of the visit, TV Tribuna CEO Roberto Clemente Santini received an institutional gift from ZPMC Vice President Shen Qiuyuan as a gesture of appreciation for organizing the agenda and promoting closer ties between Brazilian business leaders and the Chinese company.

The gesture symbolized the strengthening of relationships built during the mission and the mutual interest in expanding connections and business opportunities between Brazil and China.