Silk Road Maritime shipping network expands across 153 global ports
The Silk Road Maritime logistics enterprise expanded its ocean shipping footprint to connect 153 international ports maintaining active trade corridors between major European container hubs and Asian exporters
In September 2026, the Silk Road Maritime shipping network expanded to encompass 153 ports across the globe, according to the 8th Silk Road Maritime International Cooperation Forum held in Xiamen, China. This expansion represents a significant strengthening of the connection between China and the European Union, as well as between two markets with increasingly complex and intertwined trade ties. The new route was officially inaugurated at the forum, held from September 8 to 9.
Gdansk Port, located in Poland, serves as a critical hub for trade between Europe and Asia, hosting China's largest deep-water container terminal. As the final stop of China's maritime container trunk line to Europe, Gdansk further solidifies its role as Europe's gateway. Polish logistics executives emphasize that the new Silk Road Maritime route enhances the seamless two-way logistics channel for Polish agricultural products, cosmetics, and other premium goods to enter the Chinese market efficiently.
The Silk Road Maritime platform has evolved beyond being a shipping brand to embody a model of open cooperation that fosters durable links in a fragmented world. Representatives from shipping lines, port authorities, and logistics firms worldwide gathered to discuss how trade can remain stable in an uncertain era. Notably, Chinese shipping companies have been rapidly adopting technologies related to decarbonization, digitalization, and improving transport efficiency, as well as enhancing cooperation across borders.
The network now spans 50 countries and regions, with 160 named routes connecting 153 ports worldwide. Over eight years of operation, the network has handled over 25,000 vessel calls on its container routes, with cargo throughput exceeding 30 million 20-foot equivalent units. For China, Silk Road Maritime is one of three major logistics pillars that support the Belt and Road Initiative, alongside the China-Europe Railway Express and the New Western Land-Sea Corridor.
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