East China's Shanghai Port is continuing to go from strength to strength, with the latest statistics showing that import and export volumes in 2023 topped 10 trillion yuan ($1.39 trillion) for the third straight year.

Last year the port recorded a whopping 10.66 trillion yuan in import and export activity, with around 40 percent of the trade originating from local enterprises within Shanghai.

That accomplishment is widely said to further consolidate Shanghai's position as the world's largest trade port city, with the port now accounting for about 3.6 percent of total global trade.

The success is attributed to the concerted efforts of key linked facilities, like Shanghai Pudong International Airport – which experienced a 1.45-fold increase in inbound and outbound express shipments, totaling 484 million shipments in 2023.

The Shanghai Haitong International Automotive Terminal in Waigaoqiao, in particular, is viewed as having played a significant role in this performance – setting a new record by exporting 1.03 million cars in 2023 and surpassing a million cars in exports for two consecutive years.

The terminal accommodated 830 foreign trade roll-on/roll-off vessels throughout the year, shipping over 2,800 Chinese-manufactured cars daily to destinations worldwide.

In a significant development at the start of 2024, 15.8 metric tons of Spanish persimmons cleared customs at Yangshan Port in Shanghai. This marked the first batch of Spanish persimmons allowed into the Chinese market since the signing of an agreement between China and Spain in April 2023.

This landmark is believed to highlight Shanghai's growing role as a key entry point for global produce into the Chinese market.

The fruit sector has been a notable contributor to Shanghai's thriving import scene, with the port accounting for a quarter of the total national fruit imports in 2023, valued at $2.68 billion – representing 21.8 percent growth on the previous year.