Yanwei Port Launches North Africa Route, Marking First Plywood Export Since Port Establishment

From: Lianyungang Daily Updated: 2026-06-17 10:10

The ocean-going vessel “Asian Glory” recently docked at the berth of the Yanwei Operation Area in the Guanhe Port District, where gantry cranes operated in an orderly manner. Neatly stacked plywood panels and rows of steel pipes were steadily hoisted into the vessel’s holds. The shipment, totaling 8,500 cubic meters of plywood and 2,000 tons of steel pipes, is bound for ports in Tunisia, North Africa. This marks not only the maiden voyage of Yanwei Port’s North Africa route, but also the first plywood export shipment in the port’s entire history. The milestone adds a new category to the port’s foreign trade cargo portfolio, accumulating valuable experience for the Guanhe Port District to further tap into the international shipping market and optimize its cargo structure.

Situated at the prime waterway intersection of the Yellow Sea and Guanhe River, Yanwei Port enjoys a strategic location as a hub on the golden waterway of northern Jiangsu. As the port’s operator, Jiangsu Xinlonggang Port Co., Ltd. has adopted the business strategy of “stabilizing existing cargo volumes, expanding new sources, and developing both domestic and foreign trade” amid intensifying homogenized competition among domestic ports and the rapid growth of cross-border foreign trade logistics. The company has consolidated its traditional bulk and general cargo base, proactively explored emerging foreign trade cargo sources, and gradually diversified its cargo mix to pursue diversified transformation and upgrading.

The successful launch of this new cargo category, from initial negotiation to final shipment, relied on the market team’s proactive efforts and targeted breakthroughs. To secure overseas orders, market staff took the initiative to connect with logistics clients and collect import demand information from the North African market. After identifying the target market, they conducted on-site surveys of product specifications and export requirements, and repeatedly accompanied clients to inspect the port’s entire production and operation process, demonstrating the port’s full-chain operational capabilities in both hardware facilities and software services, which ultimately facilitated the first plywood foreign trade order.

Securing the order was only the first half of the project, while smooth loading for the maiden voyage was the critical priority. As plywood was a new cargo type for the port, the production department led pre-vessel meetings for thorough planning to eliminate operational risks. Equipment teams deployed dedicated lifting slings and securing rigging tailored to plywood hoisting characteristics, and conducted full inspection and maintenance on all gantry cranes, forklifts and strapping equipment. During on-site operations, plywood and steel pipes were stacked in separate zones, with strict controls on hoisting weight, lifting height and in-hold securing standards to prevent safety hazards such as collision damage, overturning and slipping. Frontline workers worked in orderly day-and-night shifts to guarantee loading progress, and with close multi-party coordination, the entire shipment was completed on schedule with guaranteed quality, realizing the smooth maiden voyage to North Africa.

The core development logic behind Xinlonggang Port’s continuous foreign trade order growth lies in its transformation from a single loading and unloading service provider to a full-chain integrated logistics solution provider. While expanding foreign trade cargo sources, the company has gone beyond the traditional boundaries of terminal operations. Leveraging the low-cost advantage of river-sea intermodal transport, it integrates full-link resources including inland trucking, inland barge transport and ocean shipping. For high-value, large-sized cargo such as plywood and steel pipes that have strict transportation protection requirements, the company builds customized logistics chains and provides one-stop integrated services to ensure efficient delivery of products directly to the North African market.