Core Insights - Guangzhou Port is expected to maintain its position as the top domestic container throughput port in China by the first half of 2025, with foreign trade container throughput showing significant growth, increasing by 21.20% year-on-year, surpassing domestic container throughput for the first time [1] - In the first half of 2023, Guangzhou Port achieved a total cargo throughput of 343 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 2.71%, and a container throughput of 13.82 million TEUs, up 7.57% year-on-year, ranking fifth and sixth globally respectively [1] - The port's international shipping center index has risen to 12th globally, surpassing Tokyo, indicating a shift from being the "largest domestic port" to a comprehensive hub for both domestic and foreign trade [1] Trade Performance - In the first half of 2023, Guangzhou Port handled 720,000 imported vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 3.9%, with foreign trade exports reaching 256,000 vehicles, up 23.4%, and second-hand vehicle exports skyrocketing by 415.4% [2] - The total import and export value for Guangzhou reached 605.05 billion yuan in the first half of the year, marking a historical breakthrough of 600 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 15.5% [2] Strategic Developments - The growth of Guangzhou Port is attributed to its strategic extension of "outbound" functions into the industrial hinterland, establishing an "invisible port network" through sea-rail and river-sea intermodal transport [3] - The port has also expanded its shipping routes, adding seven new foreign trade routes in the first half of the year, bringing the total container shipping routes to 285, with 179 being foreign trade routes, making it one of the ports with the most "Belt and Road" routes [3] Future Outlook - With both domestic and foreign trade efforts, Guangzhou is poised to further amplify its hub advantages and explore a "second growth curve" [4]