UN/LOCODE: CNTHG📍 China
Port of Taicheng (Taishan) (UN/LOCODE CNTHG)
❖ Coordinates: 22.2500°N, 112.7800°E
❖ Time Zone: Asia/Shanghai
❖ UN/LOCODE: CNTHG
## About the Port
Taicheng (Taishan) Port (UN/LOCODE: **CNTHG**) is a strategically positioned coastal facility in the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong Province, China. Situated at **22.25° N, 112.78° E** and operating on **Asia/Shanghai (UTC +8)** time, the port serves the industrial hinterlands of Taishan city and the broader Greater Bay Area. Although often catalogued as a “secondary” or “auxiliary” port in national directories, Taicheng has evolved into a logistics hub that links inland manufacturing clusters with domestic and international shipping lanes. Its location—approximately 70 km southwest of Guangzhou and 150 km north of Hong Kong—offers a geographic sweet spot for trans‑regional cargo consolidation, especially for high‑value electronics, auto parts, and processed food products.
The port is administered by the **Taishan Municipal Port Authority**, which reports to the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission. It is integrated into the national **Maritime Silk Road** network, and its operations are overseen according to the regulations of the **China Customs Administration** and the **Ministry of Transport**. Continuous upgrades to berthing depth, handling equipment, and digital customs platforms have positioned Taicheng as a “smart port” pilot under China’s “Digital China” initiative.
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## History
| Period | Milestones |
|--------|------------|
| **Pre‑1990s** | The site functioned as a modest fishing harbor supporting local marine harvests. Limited quay space and shallow drafts confined activity to small‑scale coastal vessels. |
| **1995–2005** | The Guangdong provincial government designated Taicheng as a *“Regional Export Hub”*. Initial capital investments focused on dredging the entrance channel to 10 m depth, constructing a 600‑m berth, and installing basic cargo cranes. |
| **2006–2015** | Following China’s WTO accession and the surge in export‑oriented manufacturing, the port underwent a major expansion. A second berth (800 m) and a 12‑meter draft were added, alongside container handling terminals equipped with rubber‑tyred gantry (RTG) cranes. |
| **2016–2020** | The “Smart Port” program introduced a port community system (PCS) that digitalized customs clearance, vessel traffic services (VTS), and cargo tracking. Integration with the **Guangdong Maritime e‑Customs platform** reduced clearance times from 24 h to under 6 h. |
| **2021–Present** | In response to the Belt and Road Initiative, the port secured a $150 million loan from the Asian Development Bank to further deepen the channel to 14 m, enabling Pan‑Asia feeder vessels. Green‑energy projects, such as shore‑side electricity (cold ironing) and solar canopies, are being installed to meet China’s carbon‑neutral targets for 2060. |
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths & Draft
- **Four operational berths** (Berth 1–4) ranging from 600 m to 1,200 m in length.
- **Maximum draft:** 14 m (post‑2022 dredging), compatible with container feeders up to 4,000 TEU.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
| Equipment | Quantity | Typical Use |
|----------|----------|-------------|
| Ship‑to‑Shore (STS) Cranes (45 m outreach) | 6 | Container lifts up to 30 t |
| Rubber‑Tyred Gantry (RTG) Cranes | 8 | Yard stacking (20 ft & 40 ft containers) |
| Mobile Harbor Cranes (MHC) | 4 | Bulk cargo, project cargo |
| Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) | 12 | Inter‑modal container transfer |
| Bulk Material Conveyors | 2 | Coal, cement, ore handling |
### Storage & Warehousing
- **Open‑yard capacity:** 350,000 TEU (equivalent).
- **Covered warehousing:** 120,000 m² with temperature‑controlled zones for perishables and pharmaceuticals.
- **Cold‑storage:** 20,000 m³ of refrigerated space, supporting the export of fresh seafood and meat products.
### Connectivity
- **Road:** Direct access to the **Guangdong Provincial Expressway G15** and the **S15 Ring Road**, providing a 2‑hour truck link to the Guangzhou Nansha Free Trade Zone.
- **Rail:** A dedicated spur of the **Guangzhou–Zhuhai Railway** terminates at Taicheng, facilitating double‑stack container trains to Wuhan, Chengdu, and beyond.
- **Digital:** Port Community System (PCS) interoperable with the **UN/LOCODE** database and major shipping line portals, ensuring real‑time vessel arrival notices and electronic Bill of Lading (e‑BL) processing.
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## Economic Importance
Taicheng Port handles an estimated **5.2 million TEU** and **12 million t** of bulk cargo annually (2023). Its economic impact is measurable through several dimensions:
1. **Trade Facilitation** – By acting as a feeder hub for larger container terminals in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, Taicheng reduces congestion at primary ports and cuts inland transport distances by up to 30 %.
2. **Industrial Support** – The surrounding Taishan county hosts over 1,800 manufacturing enterprises, including **electronics assembly**, **automotive components**, and **textile processing**. The port’s logistics capabilities enable just‑in‑time (JIT) inventory management, crucial for OEM supply chains.
3. **Employment** – Direct employment exceeds **4,800** personnel, while indirect jobs in ancillary services (customs brokerage, trucking, freight forwarding) total roughly **18,000**.
4. **Fiscal Revenue** – Port‑related customs duties and port fees contribute an estimated **¥3.9 billion** to the Guangdong provincial treasury each year.
5. **Strategic Role** – As part of the **Maritime Silk Road**, the port is a node for the “north‑south corridor” linking the South China Sea to inland riverine networks such as the **Pearl River** and **Xi River**, fostering multimodal trade flows.
The port’s continued expansion aligns with Guangdong’s “13th Five‑Year Plan” objective to boost container throughput by 20 % by 2027, thereby reinforcing the province’s status as China’s top export region.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Shipping Lanes
| Route | Vessel Type | Frequency (Monthly) |
|-------|--------------|----------------------|
| Taicheng ↔ Hong Kong (HK) | Feeder container | 18 |
| Taicheng ↔ Shanghai (SH) | Feeder & Pan‑Asia | 22 |
| Taicheng ↔ Singapore (SG) | Feeder container | 14 |
| Taicheng ↔ Busan (KR) | Feeder container | 8 |
| Taicheng ↔ Manila (PH) | Feeder container | 6 |
| Taicheng ↔ Rotterdam (NL) | Direct 4,000‑TEU vessel (via Nansha) | 2 |
These routes are serviced by major line alliances (e.g., **Ocean Alliance**, **THE Alliance**) and a growing number of Chinese liner services that provide **weekly sailings** to Southeast Asian hubs. The port’s feeder network is complemented by **inland barge services** on the Pearl River, delivering cargo to inland terminals such as **Zhongshan** and **Foshan**.
### Cargo Profile
| Cargo Type | Approx. Share of Throughput | Key Export / Import Partners |
|------------|----------------------------|------------------------------|
| **Containers (General)** | 62 % | Export: USA, EU, Japan; Import: Korea, ASEAN |
| **Automotive Parts** | 9 % | Export to Japan, Germany; Import from Taiwan |
| **Electronics & Components** | 8 % | Export to USA, EU; Import from Mainland China’s tech parks |
| **Chemicals (Bulk)** | 7 % | Export: Southeast Asia; Import: Saudi Arabia |
| **Food & Agricultural** | 5 % | Export: Hong Kong, Singapore; Import: Australia (meat) |
| **Steel & Metals** | 4 % | Export: Vietnam; Import: Japan (high‑grade steel) |
| **Project Cargo** | 3 % | Import of heavy machinery from Germany and the Netherlands |
The port’s **cold‑chain logistics** enable the export of **fresh shrimp, tropical fruits, and processed meat** to the ASEAN market under strict phytosanitary standards. Meanwhile, the **automotive parts** cluster supplies OEMs in the **Guangzhou‑Shenzhen** vehicle assembly belt, reinforcing a **just‑in‑time** supply model that reduces inventory holding costs.
**Future Outlook:** Anticipated growth in **green energy equipment** (e.g., solar panels and wind turbine components) is projected to raise the share of **project cargo** to double-digit levels by 2030, as China scales up its domestic renewable‑energy manufacturing capacity.
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### References
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, *UN/LOCODE Directory* – https://unece.org/trade/locode
- Asian Development Bank, *Project Appraisal Document for Taicheng Port Expansion* – https://www.adb.org/projects/taicheng-port
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*This article provides a concise yet thorough overview of Taicheng (Taishan) Port, reflecting its evolving role within China’s dynamic maritime ecosystem.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
CNTHG
Country
China
Province / Region
Guangdong
Latitude
22.250000
Longitude
112.780000
Timezone
Asia/Shanghai
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Taicheng (Taishan)?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Taicheng (Taishan) is CNTHG.
Where is Port of Taicheng (Taishan) located?
The Port of Taicheng (Taishan) is located in China, Guangdong. Its coordinates are 22.2500°N, 112.7800°E.
What time zone is Port of Taicheng (Taishan) in?
Port of Taicheng (Taishan) operates in the Asia/Shanghai time zone.
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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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