Yantian terminal reinforces Brazil’s strategic role in China’s trade

Projections for Yantian Terminal indicate throughput exceeding 16 million TEUs throughout 2026, surpassing the record set last year (Alexandre Lopes/AT)

The agenda of the Missão Internacional Porto & Mar 2026 on Monday (1st) took the Brazilian delegation to another giant of global logistics. Business leaders, executives, and public officials visited Yantian Terminal, in Shenzhen, a complex ranked among the largest container terminals in the world and one that plays a fundamental role in China’s foreign trade.

Welcomed by representatives of the local port administration, the Brazilian group attended a presentation on the terminal’s development, operational performance, and, above all, the growing trade relationship between China and Brazil, a topic that remained at the center of discussions throughout the visit.

The message delivered by the hosts was clear: Brazil occupies a strategic position within Yantian’s international business operations and is expected to gain even greater relevance in the coming years.

Located in southern China, near Hong Kong, the terminal has become one of the country’s main gateways for the export of manufactured goods to global markets. Currently, more than 100 weekly maritime services connect Yantian to different regions around the world, including regular routes to North America, Europe, and Latin America.

Members of the Missão Internacional Porto & Mar were welcomed at Yantian Terminal and toured its infrastructure; Chinese representatives highlighted trade relations with Brazil (Alexandre Lopes/AT)

Impressive figures

According to information presented to the delegation, the terminal is expected to surpass the mark of 16 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) handled in 2025, establishing a new operational record.

The complex features 20 deep-water berths, a natural channel approximately 18 meters deep, and infrastructure capable of accommodating some of the largest container vessels currently operating worldwide.

The connection with Brazil was one of the main topics addressed during the presentation. Representatives of Yantian emphasized that China remains Brazil’s largest trading partner and highlighted the steady growth of trade between the two countries.

Agricultural products, food products, timber, and related commodities are among the main Brazilian cargoes arriving in the Chinese market through the terminal. In the opposite direction, mechanical equipment, electronic products, and manufactured goods account for a significant share of Chinese exports destined for Brazil.

In addition to its current operations, the terminal is also seeking to expand its participation in segments related to international e-commerce, an area identified by executives as one of the main growth opportunities for the coming years.

For those who see the stacks of containers at Yantian and its record-breaking volumes, it is difficult to imagine that the site was a fishing village during the 1970s and 1980s (Alexandre Lopes/AT)

Rapid growth

Another aspect that attracted the delegation’s attention was the port’s development trajectory. What was once a small fishing village in the 1970s and 1980s has become one of the most important logistics complexes on the planet. In just over three decades, Yantian achieved historic container throughput volumes and consolidated its position among the world’s leading terminals.

The visit also reinforced a perception observed throughout the mission: China’s ability to combine long-term planning, infrastructure investment, and operational efficiency to strengthen its global competitiveness.

For members of the Brazilian delegation, visiting Yantian represented an opportunity to observe another link in the vast logistics chain that connects Chinese production to international markets and that is increasingly strengthening commercial ties between China and Brazil.