Towards Zero-Emission Freight inChinar's Port Sector: Spotlighton Leading Coastal Ports

As key nodes in the global integrated transport network, ports play a vital role in both regional and global economies, serving as indispensable links in international trade and supply chains. In the context of climate action, the highly open and internationalized nature of ports makes them a priority for zero-emission transition.

This report focuses on port freight, including both terminal equipment and port-hinterland transport. It first reviews major international zero-emission port freight initiatives to benchmark global progress. Second, it analyzes the current status of zero-emission transition in selected Chinese coastal ports—Shanghai, Ningbo Zhoushan, Qingdao, and Guangzhou—establishing emissions baselines for their port-hinterland trucking fleets to provide a quantitative reference for transition planning. Finally, using the Port of Shanghai as a case study, the research develops transition scenarios based on the technical feasibility and market readiness of zero-emission vehicles, assesses the associated emissions reduction potential, and proposes recommendations for advancing zero-emission port freight in China.