Port of Nansha
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
ASIA TRADE AND LOGISTICS
prized shorter inland hauls within Florida and up through the broader Southeast, as well as stable, predictable routing through the Panama Canal rather than relying on East Coast congestion. They will also have access to Mexico and Latin America as they become increasingly integrated with Asian supply chains.
The next chapter of the US – Asia trade corridor will be defined by flexibility, innovation and competitive opportunity.
Quiet progress
Being an alternative gateway means that when major ports struggle with high-volume issues such as customs valuation challenges, Tampa does not. It’ s a quiet sort of asset.
“ We’ re not faced with the congestion problems or the type of customs identification problems that these major ports have,” Alfonso said.
Tampa’ s efficiency and location as the“ closest port to the largest consumer market in the Southeast US” gives it an expanding market close to home. As demand rises, the port continues to invest— its container complex is currently undergoing major development.
“ We are adding 30 acres [ and ] a new container berth, and we just purchased two new super post-Panamax gantry cranes,” Alfonso said. These upgrades will give the terminal capacity to handle about 1 million TEUs annually.
The port is also investing in other intermodal facilities, refrigerated terminals and new warehousing. Its most significant long-term project, the
Tampa Harbor Navigation Improvement Project, will cost $ 1.2 billion and deepen the navigation channel from 43 feet to 47 feet.
“ Tampa is in tremendous growth mode,” Alfonso said, noting that this sentiment is backed by a strong strategic plan and solid partnerships.
The Asia-US trade corridor is undergoing profound change. Carriers and ports are investing heavily in capacity, technology, sustainability and inland connectivity to meet the demands of a more complex, diversified, fast-moving global market.
Leaders agree: the next few years will reward those who adapt quickly, invest strategically, and deliver integrated, resilient supply chain solutions. In a world where sourcing patterns shift, consumer markets grow and environmental expectations rise, the Asia – US trade corridor is poised for its next chapter— one defined by flexibility, innovation and a new wave of competitive opportunities.
email: lori. musser @ att. net
Port of Nansha
As the deepwater gateway of the Guangzhou Port Group, the Port of Nansha is strategically located in the Greater Bay Area of Southern China. Situated at the mouth of the Pearl River in Nansha District, the port serves as a major international trade hub connecting manufacturers, exporters and global supply chains to markets across North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and beyond, making it the sixth-largest port globally.
As one of China’ s fastest-growing container ports, Nansha has become a preferred gateway for shippers seeking efficient access to South China’ s manufacturing base. The port offers extensive ocean carrier connectivity, modern terminal infrastructure, and integrated transportation solutions including barge, rail and overthe-road trucking services that support seamless cargo movement throughout the region.
In 2025, the Guangzhou Port Group handled approximately 26.4 million TEUs, with Nansha accounting for 80 %, reinforcing its position as one of China’ s leading container gateways. The port also moved 600,000 containers of furniture, 1.4 million containers of electrical goods, and 200,000 containers of toys, making it a critical logistics hub for furniture, home furnishings, retail, consumer products and e-commerce supply chains.
Nansha’ s competitive advantages include proximity to major manufacturing clusters, lower origin drayage costs, efficient terminal operations and strong intermodal capabilities. These advantages help importers and exporters reduce total landed costs while improving supply chain reliability and flexibility.
As part of the Greater Bay Area development strategy, Nansha continues to invest in terminal expansion, digitalization and logistics infrastructure to support long-term growth and global trade connectivity. The port’ s focus on operational efficiency, carrier diversity and multimodal transportation solutions provides shippers with a strategic alternative for sourcing and distribution throughout South China.
For global importers, exporters, retailers and logistics providers, the Port of Nansha offers a reliable, scalable and cost-effective gateway to one of the world’ s most dynamic manufacturing and consumer markets.
48 Journal of Commerce | July 6, 2026 www. joc. com