UN/LOCODE: CNQZJ📍 China
Port of Quanzhou Port (UN/LOCODE CNQZJ)
❖ Coordinates: 24.9300°N, 118.6000°E
❖ Time Zone: Asia/Shanghai
❖ UN/LOCODE: CNQZJ
## About the Port
Quanzhou Port (UN/LOCODE: **CNQZJ**) is a major multi-functional deep-water seaport situated on the southeast coast of Fujian Province, China, at the convergence of the Jinjiang and Luoyang Rivers flowing into the Taiwan Strait. Geographically positioned at **24.93°N, 118.60°E**, it operates within the **Asia/Shanghai (UTC+8)** timezone. As the historical starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, the port complex spans three primary harbor areas—Shihu, Shenhu, and Luoyangjiang—covering a land area of approximately 12.6 square kilometers and a water area exceeding 300 square kilometers.
Administered by the Quanzhou Port Group, the facility functions as a comprehensive hub integrating container throughput, bulk cargo handling, ro-ro operations, liquid chemicals, and cruise services. It is designated a Class I open port by the Chinese State Council, permitting direct international trade. The port benefits from a subtropical monsoon climate enabling year-round operations, with minimal fog disruption and tidal ranges averaging 3.5 to 5.5 meters, facilitating deep-draft vessel access.
## History
Quanzhou’s maritime legacy dates to the **Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD)**, reaching its zenith during the **Song (960–1279) and Yuan (1271–1368) dynasties** when it was known globally as **Zayton (Zaiton)**. Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta documented it as one of the world’s busiest ports, serving as the primary gateway for Chinese ceramics, silk, and tea bound for Southeast Asia, India, Persia, and East Africa. The UNESCO World Heritage inscription **"Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China" (2021)** formally recognizes 22 sites, including ancient navigation towers, kilns, and the Luoyang Bridge, attesting to its pivotal role in pre-modern globalization.
Following a centuries-long decline due to silting, maritime bans (Haijin), and the Opium Wars, modern redevelopment commenced in **1979** following China’s reform and opening-up. The establishment of the Quanzhou Port Authority in **2001** and the subsequent merger with the Meizhou Bay Port Group in **2017** (forming the Meizhou Bay Port-Quanzhou Port Area) consolidated management, catalyzing rapid capacity expansion. In **2023**, the port handled **115 million tonnes** of cargo and **2.18 million TEU**, firmly establishing it as a top-20 global port by throughput.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
The port’s infrastructure is engineered for high-efficiency, deep-water logistics across specialized terminals:
### Deep-Water Container Terminals
The **Shihu Harbor Area** hosts the flagship **Quanzhou Pacific Container Terminal (QPCT)**, a joint venture with PSA International. It features **four 100,000 DWT-class berths** with alongside depths of **15.5–16.5 meters**, quay cranes with 24-row outreach, and automated rail-mounted gantry cranes (ARMG) in the yard. This enables handling of **Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) exceeding 18,000 TEU**.
### Bulk & Breakbulk Complexes
**Shenhu Bay** accommodates **400,000 DWT Valemax ore carriers** and **300,000 DWT VLOCs** at dedicated iron ore and coal berths (depths up to 23 meters). The **Luoyangjiang Area** specializes in general cargo, timber, and steel, utilizing mobile harbor cranes and expansive covered storage yards totaling 1.2 million square meters.
### Liquid Chemical & Energy Terminals
A dedicated **300,000 DWT crude oil terminal** in Shenhu connects via subsea pipelines to the Fujian Refining & Petrochemical (FREP) complex. Additional berths handle LNG, LPG, and liquid chemicals (up to 50,000 DWT), supported by tank farms exceeding 2 million cubic meters capacity.
### Ro-Ro & Cruise Facilities
The **Quanzhou Ro-Ro Terminal** (Shihu) offers 4 berths with 12-meter drafts, serving the burgeoning automobile export sector (BYD, Geely, Chery). The **Jinjiang Cruise Terminal** processes international and domestic "cruises to nowhere," handling 200,000 passengers annually.
**Connectivity:** The port possesses direct rail access via the **Zhangping–Quanzhou–Xiaocuo Railway**, linking to the national trunk network. Expressway integration (Shenhai, Quannan, Quansan) ensures hinterland trucking efficiency within the "1-hour economic circle" of Xiamen, Fuzhou, and Zhangzhou.
## Economic Importance
Quanzhou Port is the **maritime artery of Fujian’s "Minnan Golden Triangle"** and a critical node in the **21st Century Maritime Silk Road** (Belt and Road Initiative). It serves the **Quanzhou Metropolitan Area**, China’s largest county-level economy cluster, characterized by dense manufacturing clusters: footwear (Jinjiang), textiles (Shishi), stone (Hui’an), ceramics (Dehua), petrochemicals (Quangang), and automotive components.
In 2023, port-related industries contributed over **RMB 350 billion** to regional GDP. The port drives employment for over 100,000 workers directly and indirectly. Its strategic pivot toward **high-value logistics**—cold chain for seafood/agriculture, automobile export logistics parks, and cross-border e-commerce consolidation centers (bonded warehouses in the Quanzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone)—diversifies revenue beyond traditional stevedoring.
The port acts as a **decongestion valve for Xiamen Port** (approx. 30nm south), absorbing overflow bulk and feeder container traffic while offering lower terminal handling charges (THC) and shorter trucking distances for inland Fujian factories.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
Quanzhou Port maintains a **dual-hub route structure**: deep-sea mainline services and intensive intra-Asia/feeder networks.
### Container Liner Services
Over **30 container lines** (COSCO, ONE, MSC, CMA CGM, Wan Hai, SITC) deploy **60+ weekly services**.
* **Deep-Sea:** Direct calls on **US West Coast (LA/LB, Oakland)**, **Mediterranean/Black Sea**, **Middle East (Jebel Ali)**, and **West Africa**.
* **Intra-Asia:** High-frequency feeders to **Hong Kong, Singapore, Busan, Kaohsiung, Port Klang, Bangkok/Laem Chabang, Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai), Manila**, and Japanese ports (Tokyo, Osaka). This density supports Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing supply chains for electronics and textiles.
### Bulk & Specialized Trades
* **Iron Ore & Coal:** Long-term COAs (Contracts of Affreightment) with **Vale (Brazil), Rio Tinto/BHP (Australia)**, and Indonesian/Russian coal shippers supply FREP and local power plants (Huaneng, Datang).
* **Automobiles:** Emerging as a **Top 3 Chinese auto export gateway** (2023: ~400,000 units). Pure Car/Truck Carriers (PCTCs) sail to **Mexico, Brazil, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia (Vladivostok), Southeast Asia, and Europe (Zeebrugge/Bremerhaven)**.
* **Petrochemicals:** Imported crude (Middle East, Russia, Americas) and exported refined products (gasoline, diesel, PX, PTA) dominate liquid bulk tonnage.
* **Stone & Ceramics:** Specialized breakbulk and containerized flows to **USA, EU, Middle East, Southeast Asia** leveraging the "Stone Capital" (Hui’an) and "Ceramics Capital" (Dehua) clusters.
### Digital & Green Corridors
The port operates the **"Quanzhou Port Smart Logistics Platform"**, integrating blockchain-enabled bills of lading, automated gate systems (OCR/ANPR), and 5G-enabled remote crane operation. It is piloting a **Green Shipping Corridor** with the **Port of Singapore** and **Port of Los Angeles**, focusing on methanol/bunker-ready infrastructure and shore power (OPS) coverage at all container berths to meet IMO 2030/2050 decarbonization targets. For real-time vessel schedules and tariff regulations, stakeholders reference the official Quanzhou Port Group↗ portal and the China Ports & Harbors Association↗ statistical yearbooks.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
CNQZJ
Country
China
Province / Region
Fujian
Latitude
24.930000
Longitude
118.600000
Timezone
Asia/Shanghai
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Quanzhou Port?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Quanzhou Port is CNQZJ.
Where is Port of Quanzhou Port located?
The Port of Quanzhou Port is located in China, Fujian. Its coordinates are 24.9300°N, 118.6000°E.
What time zone is Port of Quanzhou Port in?
Port of Quanzhou Port operates in the Asia/Shanghai time zone.
🌊 Live Marine Conditions
Wave Height0.68 m
Wave Direction181°
Swell Height0.5 m
Data provided by Open-Meteo Marine API
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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