World’s largest port visited by Brazilian delegation in Shanghai, China

Access routes to the Port of Shanghai facilitate cargo flow and are synonymous with efficiency (Alexandre Lopes/AT)

The fifth day of the Missão Internacional Porto & Mar 2026, organized by Grupo Tribuna in China, took the Brazilian delegation to the heart of the largest port operation on the planet. Business leaders, executives, and public officials participated this Thursday (28) in a technical visit to the Port of Shanghai — the global leader in container throughput and a symbol of China’s strategy to transform infrastructure, technology, and automation into pillars of global competitiveness.

Welcomed by Chinese port authorities, members of the delegation attended presentations on the current status of the complex, expansion projects planned for the coming years, and investments aimed at increasing the port’s operational capacity, which already operates on a gigantic scale.

Throughout the visit, one of the aspects that most attracted the attention of the Brazilian delegation was the level of automation applied to port operations. Automated cranes, intelligent logistics management systems, digital cargo movement control, and highly integrated operational structures help transform the Port of Shanghai into a global benchmark for efficiency.

The Donghai Bridge Offshore Wind Farm attracted the attention of Brazilians (Alexandre Lopes/AT)

At several moments, comparisons with the Port of Santos — the largest port in the Southern Hemisphere — were inevitable among participants. While the Santos complex handles approximately 6 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) per year, Shanghai has surpassed the mark of 50 million TEU annually.

With these figures, the Port of Shanghai has led global container throughput for more than a decade. This achievement helps illustrate not only the scale of the Chinese structure, but also the level of investment the country has made in maritime infrastructure and logistics integration.

Another aspect that impressed Brazilian business leaders was the reduced number of workers directly involved in the operations observed during the visit. A large portion of the processes takes place in an automated manner, using artificial intelligence, integrated digital systems, and remote-operated equipment.

Strategic location

An important part of the Port of Shanghai’s operations takes place at the Yangshan Deep-Water Port Complex, located on islands connected to the mainland by the gigantic Donghai Bridge, considered one of the largest sea-crossing bridges in the world, with approximately 32 kilometers in length.

The structure was built to provide access to a deep-water region, eliminating draft limitations and enabling the operation of some of the world’s largest cargo vessels. This strategic advantage transformed Shanghai into a global logistics powerhouse.

While several international ports face operational restrictions related to channel depth, Yangshan operates in a naturally deep-water region, allowing it to receive large vessels without significant draft limitations.

In addition to its massive cargo handling capacity, the complex has also become a global benchmark in port automation. Terminals operated with artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and robotic equipment help reduce operational time, increase logistics efficiency, and enhance international competitiveness.

Members of the International Mission Porto & Mar observed daily operations at the world’s number one port in container throughput (Disclosure)

Future

The agenda reinforced among Brazilian business leaders the perception that the future of global maritime logistics necessarily depends on the combination of automation, artificial intelligence, large-scale infrastructure, and strategic planning — pillars that today help transform the Port of Shanghai into one of the largest engines of global trade.

Logistics integration

For the members of the mission, the visit represented a rare opportunity to closely observe how China has been using technology, planning, and long-term investments to consolidate global leadership in maritime infrastructure.

More than just a port, Shanghai now functions as one of the main logistics integration hubs in global trade.

During the presentations, Chinese authorities also highlighted future expansion plans for the port complex over the next ten years, reinforcing the country’s strategy of continuing to expand operational capacity and international connectivity.