Containers carrying goods for export are seen in Qingdao Port, East China's Shandong province on Oct 19, 2018. [Photo/VCG]

Authorities of Qingdao Port announced on Dec 28 that the port's throughput in 2019 exceeded 600 million tons for the first time, while container throughput exceeded 21 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units).

In 2019, it handled a total bulk cargo volume of 180 million tons, while crude oil throughput reached 117 million tons.

According to a senior general manager from Shandong Port Group, Qingdao Port is 30 percent more efficient than regular ports and employs 80 percent fewer people. Its level of automation is higher than that of Rotterdam Port and other world-class ports.

Qingdao Port began using 5G technology early this year, allowing the quay cranes to automatically move containers. The port is considered to be the first in the world to use 5G-based technology in remote-controlled cranes.

Since the beginning of 2019, the number of Qingdao Port's inland ports has increased from 10 to 15, and the number of sea-rail intermodal trains has increased from 40 to 48.

The Shandong Port Group, which was established in August, has integrated the major ports in the province, including Qingdao Port, Yantai Port, Rizhao Port and the Bohai Bay Port Group, in a bid to bolster the province's opening-up and become a world-class port hub.