Shanghai Port Has a New Export Channel for Energy Storage Cabinets: The First Batch of Units Successfully Loaded and Shipped from Nangang Terminal

　　In recent years, the "new three" of foreign trade, consisting of new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar cells, have become important growth engines for China's foreign trade exports. As the core agglomeration area of China's new energy industry, the Yangtze River Delta region has added a new channel for energy storage cabinets to go overseas.

　　At 8 a.m. on March 22, with a domestically produced energy storage cabinet covered with blue protective tarpaulin being steadily hoisted onto the Liberian-flagged "Kraszewski" vessel, it marked the official launch of the energy storage cabinet export business at Shanghai Nangang Terminal.

　　Energy storage cabinets are characterized by their large volume and heavy tonnage, making sea transport the most economical mode of transportation. A total of 46 energy storage cabinets are being exported this time, with each unit having a volume equivalent to a standard container and a weight of 43 tons. This batch of energy storage cabinets will be loaded onto the vessel along with a total of 717 pieces of various equipment and materials, including transformer radiators, wind turbine units, and wind turbine blades, for export to the European market.

　　Currently, the process of energy transition in Europe is accelerating, with the energy structure rapidly shifting towards clean energy, the dependence on oil and gas imports gradually decreasing, and the proportion of nuclear and renewable energy steadily increasing. The UK government recently announced the removal of 33 wind power component import tariffs from April 1, 2026, further boosting the new energy market. Given the intermittent nature of wind and solar power generation, energy storage cabinets have become key supporting equipment to ensure the grid-connected operation of wind and photovoltaic systems and maintain grid stability and reliability. The European photovoltaic, wind power, and energy storage markets are expected to usher in a new round of development opportunities.

　　To undertake the energy storage cabinet export business and precisely serve local manufacturing enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta and Lingang for nearby overseas shipping, the terminal operator Haitong Lingang has implemented special upgrades and renovations to port facilities and equipment, establishing a dedicated storage area for energy storage cabinets. After comprehensive acceptance of the energy storage cabinet export renovation project, Shanghai Nangang Terminal has become the only port in the Shanghai area with the qualification for energy storage cabinet exports. Currently, the Lingang New Area has gathered more than 20 energy storage industry chain enterprises, including Tesla's Shanghai Energy Storage Super Factory and CATL, forming a complete industrial ecosystem covering demonstration applications, energy storage systems, core equipment, and cell materials. Relying on the nearby export from Shanghai Nangang Terminal can effectively reduce logistics and operating costs for enterprises, improve supply chain turnover efficiency, and contribute to the high-quality development of international trade.

　　It is noteworthy that energy storage cabinets are classified as Class 9 dangerous goods under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), requiring high safety control throughout the transportation and export process. This operation not only marks the first time Nangang Terminal has conducted energy storage cabinet loading operations but also features a large variety of cargo types, varying specifications and sizes, high operational complexity, and long vessel port stays, making the operation challenging to ensure.

　　To ensure the safe and efficient completion of loading operations by port and shipping companies, the Yangshan Border Inspection Station implements round-the-clock on-site duty and full-chain closed-loop supervision, fully ensuring the safety, smoothness, and orderly progress of crew shifts, vessel refueling, and sea-side docking operations. Guo Guanghai, the instructor of the third team on duty at the Yangshan Border Inspection Station, stated: "The vessel's port stay for this voyage is 8 days, with a total load exceeding 60,000 tons. We have issued docking operation permits for 5 barge trips, promptly responding to the needs for vessel fuel refueling, sea-side overweight and oversized operations, and various material supplies, ensuring the safe and smooth loading and export of this batch of power equipment."