Huanghua Port

Huanghua Port

Huanghua Port is a cultural tourism attraction.

Huanghua Port is a regional port of significance along the coast of Hebei Province and one of China’s major energy export hubs. It is located on the shores of the Bohai Sea at the border between Hebei and Shandong provinces, approximately 90 kilometers east of downtown Cangzhou. The port consists of three harbor areas: the Coal Terminal, the Comprehensive Terminal, and the Estuary Terminal. It is about 45 kilometers from downtown Huanghua by land, and by water it is 60 nautical miles north of Tianjin and 149 nautical miles east of Longkou. The Dakou River, where the Zhangwei New River and Xuanhui River converge, meets the sea here.

Huanghua Port was established in 1984. Since the completion of two 1,000-ton berths in 1986, there have been a total of 14 productive berths. These include: 8 coal berths, 5 general cargo berths, and 1 20,000-ton liquid chemical berth. The berths are owned by two port handling companies: Shenhua Huanghua Port Co., Ltd. and Cangzhou Huanghua Port Bureau. The port administration is managed by the Cangzhou Port and Navigation Administration.

Huanghua Port has a vast hinterland and convenient transportation, serving as a key maritime gateway for inland regions such as Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia. It is a major coal shipping port in northern China and an important outlet for the “Three Wests” coal transport second channel. Huanghua Port is set to become a fully equipped, functionally comprehensive international and modern hub port focusing primarily on coal, while also integrating liquid chemicals, bulk cargo, and container operations. Its annual throughput is expected to reach 300 million tons. The port’s development plan centers on the Coal Terminal, Bulk Cargo Terminal, and Comprehensive Terminal, supplemented by the Estuary Terminal. The functions and current status of each terminal are as follows:

(1) Coal Terminal. Huanghua Port’s Coal Terminal is the seaport outlet of the second major route for coal transport from west to east and north to south in China, and the leading project of the “Shenhua Project,” holding an important position in the national economy. The Coal Terminal currently has 10 berths, including: 2 50,000-ton berths, 1 35,000-ton berth, and 1 15,000-ton expanded-capacity berth built in Phase I; 2 50,000-ton berths and 1 100,000-ton berth built in Phase II; as well as 2 15,000-ton general cargo berths. A liquid chemical terminal has been completed and is awaiting operation. Currently, the Coal Terminal’s channel is 24 nautical miles long, with a charted depth of 14 meters and a bottom width of 200 meters. In 2006, the port’s throughput exceeded 80 million tons; in 2007, it reached 82 million tons; and in 2008, it was 79 million tons.

(2) Bulk Cargo Terminal. This terminal mainly handles large-volume bulk goods such as iron ore and crude oil. The focus is on constructing large-scale specialized terminals for dry and liquid bulk cargo, forming a sizable specialized bulk cargo terminal area. Some berths in the Bulk Cargo Terminal are currently under construction and are expected to be operational by August 2010.

(3) Comprehensive Terminal. This terminal mainly handles general bulk and general cargo, containers, refined oil, and liquid chemicals. The focus is on building various specialized and non-specialized berths of less than 100,000 tons, forming a large comprehensive terminal area. Some berths in the Comprehensive Terminal are currently under construction and are expected to be operational by August 2010.

(4) Estuary Terminal. All berths in the Estuary Terminal are for domestic trade and are under 10,000 tons. There is currently 1 1,000-ton berth, 2 3,000-ton berths, and a V-shaped terminal berth under construction.

Transportation Guide

Location: Eastern coastal area of Huanghua City, Hebei Province

By Bus: Within Huanghua City, you can take a bus heading to the port.

By Car: Take the Shihuang Expressway from Cangzhou, and you’ll arrive in about one hour with excellent road conditions.