In September 2023, with the support of Energy Foundation China, Southwest Jiaotong University released this research report using big data to study China’s shipping industry.

Currently, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the temporal and spatial distribution of goods and transport vessels on waterways nationwide. Traditional studies often focus on smaller regions, making it challenging to gain a clear understanding of the entire shipping market in China. This report employs big data technology to analyze the shipping market, establishing a quantitative understanding of coastal and inland shipping markets, thereby providing a foundation for future research on ship types and cargo matching.

Covering bulk cargo vessels and container ships, the report conducts a comprehensive analysis of China’s coastal and inland shipping markets, with focuses on three aspects including vessels, routes, and ports.