The port complex of Zhoushan on China’s largest archipelago has long been lumped together for statistical purposes with Ningbo on the mainland. However, it’s just over a month since the two rival neighbours finally merged, illustrating a sea change in the Chinese shipping and ports sector as the state step up its efforts to tackle overcapacity and overhaul the bloated state-owned sector.
Located at the southern end of Hangzhou Bay, which borders Shanghai to the north, Zhoushan Port completed its merger with Ningbo Port on September 29 to create the world’s busiest port group by cargo tonnage, with a combined throughput last year of 873 million metric tons....