Weifang Port breaks ground on 50,000-metric-ton deep-water channel

Weifang Port broke ground on a new 50,000-metric-ton navigation channel on Dec 25, a crucial infrastructure project that will elevate Weifang's capacity to handle both domestic and international trade and fuel the city's goal of creating a trillion-yuan ($142 billion) economy.

For years, Weifang Port's growth has been tempered by its existing 35,000-ton channel. This older thoroughfare struggled with heavy sediment build-up from the nearby Yellow River, which prevented larger modern vessels from docking. The port was also burdened by the high operational costs of removing 5.6 million cubic meters of sediment annually just to maintain its limited depth.

Weifang Port breaks ground on a new 50,000-metric-ton navigation channel on Dec 25. [Photo/Xinpai]

Earlier in 2025, the city launched a major initiative to build a multimodal transport corridor, investing over 34.5 million yuan. This project integrates Weifang Port with the breakwater, extensive railway systems, and four major logistics hubs, creating a seamless "golden route" for moving cargo across the region.

This investment in infrastructure is already yielding results. In 2025, Weifang Port saw its throughput increase by 10.1 percent, while container traffic grew by 7.6 percent. Most notably, foreign trade exports from the port surged by 31.1 percent, signaling a growing global demand for the region's goods.

The new 66-kilometer-long channel is expected to be completed within four and a half years. It will allow the port to accommodate much larger ships, effectively boosting its annual capacity by more than 40 million tons.

By overcoming geographic challenges and expanding its physical reach, Weifang Port is poised to attract more international shipping lines and solidify its position as a vital economic hub in East China.