Sister port relationship established: April 14, 1993
World port ranking
#4 in total tonnage
#14 container port
China port ranking
#5 largest port
(based on 2009 volumes; volumes do not include Hong Kong; value in U.S. dollars)
| | Facts about Tianjin > Tianjin is the birth place of the first university in China (1895). > The city flower of Tianjin is the Chinese rose, a symbol of peace and friendship. > As of 2007, the city of Tianjin boasted a population of 11.5 million (27th largest) > Tianjin produces 2.38 million tons of crude salt, about 1/10 of the overall production in China. > Nicknames: "Pearl of the Bohai" and "Stronghold of Rivers and the Sea" |
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Value of trade between the People's Republic of China Value and Tacoma
- Two-way trade = $11.6 billion
Ranks #1 among Port of Tacoma's international trading partners - Exports = $1.62 billion
Ranks #2 among Port of Tacoma's export trading partners - Imports = $9.99 billion
Ranks #1 among Port of Tacoma's import trading partners
Top 5 exports from Port of Tacoma to People's Republic of China
- Oil seeds etc.; misc. grain, seed, fruit - $792.3 billion (2,163,900 short tons)
- Iron and steel - $176.6 million (627,928 short tons)
- Wood pulp, waste paper and paperboard - $98.3 million (627,743 short tons)
- Industrial machinery - $63.4 million (6,518 short tons)
- Raw hides, skins and leather - $56.3 million (25,646 short tons)
Top 5 imports from People's Republic of China to Port of Tacoma
- Electrical machinery/electronics - $1.75 billion (153,757 short tons)
- Footwear - $1.39 billion (178,654 short tons)
- Toys, games and sports equipment - $1.37 billion (148,187 short tons)
- Industrial machinery - $1.03 billion (173,802 short tons)
- Furniture, bedding, etc.; prefab buildings - $853.3 million (305,759 short tons)
Location
The port is situated at a prime geographical location at the juncture of the Beijing-Tianjin city belt and the centre of the Bohai Rim Region, the vast hinterland covering 14 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions including Beijing and Tianjin. It is the logistics hub of Tianjin Binhai New Area.
History
Called Zhigu until 1404, the name "Tianjin" or "Heavenly Ford," was adopted to commemorate the fording of the river at that point by the Emperor and the establishment of a military fort at the site. Tianjin was opened to the world as a trading port in 1860 upon ratification of the Treaties of Tianjin with Britain and France. Tianjin became the second largest commercial city in China (behind Shanghai), and the largest financial and trading center in north China. In 1949, Tianjin became a municipality under direct control of the central authorities after the founding of the People's Republic of China. The port was redeveloped and reopened in 1952.
Trade
The port trades with more than 600 ports in 180 countries and regions around the world. Presently, 58 container lines offer regularly scheduled service to the port.
The port serves Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shan'xi, Shanxi, Gansu and Qinghai provinces, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang Uger and Ningxia Autonomous Regions, Tibet, as well as parts of Henan, Sichuan and Shandong provinces.
Among the imports and exports going through Tianjin, 50 percent are from Tianjin, 20 percent are from Beijing, 12 percent are from Hebei Province and 18 percent are from other areas. Seventy percent of the total cargo volume and 50 percent of the total cargo value come from provinces and regions outside Tianjin.
In 2009, the port handled about 195.8 million tons of bulk goods and 4.465 million TEUs. As of Dec. 31, 2009, the port had 21 subsidiaries involved in provision of port services.
Land and infrastructure
The port encompasses a combined total area of 62.5 acres (water - 49 acres, land - 19 acres). The main channel depth is 62.3 feet (19.5 meters), capable of accommodating vessels up to 300,000 dwt. Altogether, the port has 140 berths, with 63 suited for vessels of 10,000 dwt or above.
The port includes Free Trade Zone, which helps develop Tianjin as an important transport hub and industrial center.
Management
The Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd., is the major port, with total assets of RMB 35 billion and a 20,000 strong workforce. It is engaged in port handling, warehousing and storage of cargo, and the provision of freight forwarding and shipping brokerage services.
Dec. 16, 2008: A four-person delegation from the Port of Tianjin, led by Mr. Sun Shining, director of Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd., visits Tacoma.
September 2008: Port Commissioner Claire Petrich and Tong Zhu, director of commercial strategy, provide an update on the Port of Tacoma to Tianjin port officials during the Trade Development Alliance trade mission to Northern China.
2007: Port Commissioner Connie Bacon, Executive Director Tim Farrell and Tong Zhu, director of commercial strategy, visit the Port of Tianjin and meet with Mr. Ruming Yu, acting chairman and chief executive of Tianjin Port Authority.
June 2006: Executives from the Port of Tacoma meet with a three-person delegation from the Port of Tianjin during their visit to the Puget Sound.
June 2005: A four-person delegation from the Port of Tianjin, led by Mr. Sun Shining, Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd., visit the Port of Tacoma.
April 2004: The ports of Tacoma and Tianjin commemorate the 11th anniversary of their sister port relationship by renewing their sister port cooperation and exchange memorandum.
November 2001: The Port of Tacoma's Doug Lundgren visits the Port of Tianjin.
September 1996: The Port of Tacoma hosts a visiting delegation from the Port of Tianjin.
April 14, 1993: Zhu Qing Yang, director of the Port of Tianjin, and Jack Fabulich, president of the Port of Tacoma Commission, sign the first sister port agreement between the two ports.
Sister Ports: Belawan, Indonesia | Kaohsiung, Taiwan | Kitakyushu, Japan | Vladivostok, Russia
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