Shanghai is reinforcing its status as China’s busiest international gateway, with customs statistics released on 10 March showing double-digit growth across sea, air and passenger channels in the first two months of 2026. The city handled 7,281 ocean-going vessels (-up 2.4 percent year-on-year) and 41,000 international flights (-up 1.2 percent), while overall traveller throughput reached 6.92 million, a 1.5 percent increase despite the Middle-East turmoil. To cope, Shanghai Customs has accelerated “smart port” upgrades. At Yangshan Port, a blockchain-enabled tri-ledger system now links customs, terminal inventory and third-party logistics data, allowing green-methanol bunkering operations to clear in near real time. On 5 March a CMA CGM vessel received a record 3,643 tonnes of domestically produced green methanol without delaying departure schedules. Pudong Airport meanwhile has opened 24-hour “no-escort” cargo inspections and appointment-based passenger bag checks, coupled with self-service foreign-currency refund kiosks. Italian cargo airline MSC Air Cargo launched its inaugural Milan–Shanghai freighter on 3 March, underlining renewed cargo confidence. For mobility teams the figures signal that post-pandemic capacity constraints are easing, but also that immigration lines could lengthen during peak expo months. Relocation providers recommend booking early-morning arrival slots where e-gates have lower utilisation and reminding assignees to have QR-code customs declarations completed before landing.
Source: Xinmin Evening News
