Port of Lianyungang shipping covers the largest seaport in northern Jiangsu, which handled 7.16 million TEU and about 367 million tonnes of cargo in 2025. Containers load at the Miaoling area of the main port, and the port is the eastern end of the rail land bridge to central and western China and Central Asia. This guide explains the terminals, the cargo, China's export rules at the port and how to ship from Lianyungang to Dubai. We ship in both directions: from Lianyungang to Dubai, and from Dubai to Lianyungang with import clearance by the consignee's broker in China.
Port of Lianyungang: key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Lianyungang, northeast Jiangsu, on Haizhou Bay facing the Yellow Sea |
| UN/LOCODE | CNLYG |
| Port operator | Lianyungang Port Group |
| Container throughput 2025 | 7,160,000 TEU, up 7% (2024: 6,690,700 TEU) |
| World ranking | 33rd in the Lloyd's List Top 100 Ports 2026 |
| Total cargo 2025 | About 367 million tonnes |
| Container services | 99, per Lloyd's List |
| Port layout | One port, four zones: main port (Lianyun), Ganyu, Xuwei, Guanhe |
| Berths | 79 sea berths of 10,000 DWT or more, 35 inland river berths |
| Main channel | 300,000 DWT class, over 20 m deep |
| Main container terminals | LYG-PSA (LPCT) and COSCO's New Oriental terminal (LNOIT), Miaoling |
| Rail | Six international rail routes, 104 Eurasian stations |
| Ice | Ice-free all year |
| Export customs | China Customs (GACC); export declared 24 hours before loading |
| Usual UAE discharge port | Jebel Ali, Dubai |
| Dubai to Lianyungang | UAE export declaration at Jebel Ali; China import declaration by the consignee or its broker within 14 days of the ship arriving |
Where is the Port of Lianyungang and what does it serve?
Lianyungang sits on the north coast of Jiangsu, about halfway between Shanghai and Qingdao. Qingdao is about 300 km away by land and Rizhao about 120 km. The port has two natural markets.
- Northern Jiangsu and southern Shandong: Xuzhou, Suqian, Huai'an and the Lianyungang industrial zones. PSA describes Jiangsu and Shandong as China's second and third largest economic provinces.
- The inland provinces along the Longhai and Lanxin railway: Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu and Xinjiang. This railway leaves China at Alashankou and gives Lianyungang its role as the eastern end of the New Eurasian Land Bridge.
The port was designated an international hub seaport in March 2021. It is ice-free all year, unlike some ports further north, so winter does not close it.
Should you load at Lianyungang or another Chinese port?
| Supplier location | Usual load port | When to compare another port |
|---|---|---|
| Lianyungang, Xuzhou, Suqian, Huai'an | Lianyungang | When Lianyungang has no service on your date |
| Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Xinjiang | Lianyungang by rail | Compare with Qingdao or Tianjin by rail |
| Southern Shandong (Linyi, Rizhao) | Lianyungang, Rizhao or Qingdao | Compare sailings and trucking |
| Southern Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang | Shanghai or Ningbo | Almost never Lianyungang |
Lianyungang has fewer deep-sea sailings to the Gulf than Shanghai or Qingdao. Some services load at Lianyungang and transship at a larger hub. Compare the total cost and time to your door in Dubai, not only the ocean rate.
How is the Port of Lianyungang laid out?
The port calls itself "one port with four zones". Most container cargo stays in the main port, but the other zones matter for bulk, chemicals and project cargo.
| Zone | Opened | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| Main port (Lianyun): Miaoling, Mayao, Xugou, Dadi, Qitai | 1933 onward | Containers at Miaoling, general cargo, iron ore, grain |
| Ganyu (north wing) | 2012 | Bulk and industry, 100,000-ton channel |
| Xuwei (south wing) | 2013 | Petrochemical base, crude oil and liquid chemicals |
| Guanhe (south wing) | Newest | Sea-river transfer, 50,000-ton channel |
Jiangsu's first 300,000 DWT deep-water channel opened fully in September 2022, and its second phase passed inspection in December 2023. Very large ships using it must time their passage to the tide, so berthing windows for the biggest vessels are fixed by the tide table. A crude oil terminal at Xuwei was completed in November 2024.
Which container terminals does Lianyungang have?
Container berths are concentrated at Miaoling in the main port. Two terminals carry most of the international business.
The LYG-PSA terminal (LPCT)
LPCT is a joint venture of PSA and Lianyungang Port Group and opened in 2014. PSA describes it as linking the hinterland of Jiangsu and Shandong with routes to Europe, the Americas and Asia, and as well placed for rail cargo on the land bridge.
| LYG-PSA Container Terminal | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Miaoling port zone |
| Container berths | 5 |
| Quay length | 1,700 m |
| Maximum depth at chart datum | 16.5 m |
| Quay cranes | 14 |
| Area | 59.5 ha |
| Designed capacity | 2.21 million TEU a year |
COSCO's New Oriental terminal (LNOIT)
LNOIT is a subsidiary of COSCO SHIPPING Ports and was the first modern terminal company at Lianyungang to specialise in international containers. It handled 2.88 million TEU in 2018 and runs rail container operations as well as ship work.
New automated berths at Miaoling
Berths 25 to 27 at Miaoling are being rebuilt into one 150,000-ton and one 200,000-ton automated container berth, with a designed capacity of 1.78 million TEU a year and completion targeted before June 2027. Until then, empty pick-up and return still rely on manual scheduling, so give your truck extra time.
The terminal on your booking decides where the truck goes and when the cut-off falls. Check it on the booking confirmation before the supplier sends the truck.
[AMIR-FACT: our real transit time from Lianyungang to Jebel Ali, direct or via transshipment, and the carriers or services we usually book for Lianyungang cargo]
Land bridge rail: how inland cargo reaches the port
Rail is what makes Lianyungang different from most Chinese ports. On 1 December 1992 it launched China's earliest international container train, and by June 2025 more than 7,000 China-Europe freight trains had run through the port. Lloyd's List credits rail growth and stronger intermodal links for its 7% rise in 2025.
| Rail facility | What it does |
|---|---|
| China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base | Opened May 2014; handled 610 CR Express train trips from January to August 2025; trains carry over 400 categories of goods |
| SCO (Lianyungang) International Logistics Park | 16 km from the port; runs the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan rail route |
| International rail network | Six international routes through five exit points, including Alashankou, reaching 104 Eurasian stations |
For a buyer in Dubai, rail matters in the other direction too. A supplier in Henan, Shaanxi or Gansu can rail a container to Lianyungang and load it on a ship, instead of trucking a long way to the coast. In June 2025 CGTN reported Kazakh wheat moving by rail to Lianyungang and then by sea to Southeast Asia, which shows the same sea-rail link works for transit cargo.
Plan the two legs together. Rail plans have to be submitted in advance, and the ocean booking should be worked back from the vessel cut-off. Block trains run less often than ships, so a missed train can mean a missed sailing.
What cargo moves through the Port of Lianyungang?
Lianyungang exports chemicals, mechanical and electrical products and agricultural products, and imports iron ore, coal, grain and non-ferrous ores. For buyers in Dubai the main export groups are these.
| Cargo | How it usually moves | What to plan |
|---|---|---|
| Chemicals and petrochemical products | Containers, isotanks, liquid bulk from Xuwei | DG classification, MSDS, carrier and terminal acceptance |
| Machinery and construction equipment | FCL, flat rack or breakbulk | Dimensions, lifting points, road permits in the UAE |
| Steel products | Breakbulk or containers | Weight limits, lashing, moisture protection |
| Building materials | Heavy FCL in 20ft boxes | Payload limit, bracing, ISPM 15 wood packaging |
| Agricultural products | FCL, reefers | Quarantine papers, UAE food registration and labelling |
| Inland Chinese goods by rail | Sea-rail containers | Rail plan, rail cut-off, export declaration point |
Shipping from Lianyungang to Dubai: FCL and LCL
Most cargo from Lianyungang to Dubai moves in containers into Jebel Ali.
- FCL (full container load). You book a whole 20ft or 40ft box, stuffed at the factory or a rail terminal. It suits chemicals, machinery and larger orders.
- LCL (less than container load). Your cartons share a box with other shippers. Lianyungang has fewer LCL services to the Gulf than Shanghai or Qingdao, so small lots are often trucked or shipped to a larger port for consolidation.
Our article on FCL vs LCL costs shows where the break-even point falls, and our sea freight service covers container types. In low-water season, barges from inland northern Jiangsu carry less, so plan large batches in stages.
Breakbulk, bulk and project cargo from Lianyungang
With a 300,000 DWT channel, an iron ore terminal for 400,000-tonne ships and dedicated bulk and liquid berths, Lianyungang handles far more than containers. For cargo leaving for the Gulf, the useful part is steel, machinery and plant equipment.
Pieces slightly over height or width usually go on flat racks or open tops on container ships. Pieces too large for a flat rack move as breakbulk, and the vessel date then drives the plan. Start with drawings, weights and centre of gravity for each piece, then agree lifting points and lashing with the carrier. Our break bulk and project cargo service handles discharge, permits and delivery at the UAE end, and our bulk cargo team handles dry and liquid bulk enquiries.
Dangerous goods through the Port of Lianyungang
Lianyungang is a chemical port. The Xuwei petrochemical base and the chemical plants of northern Jiangsu send a steady flow of DG containers and isotanks. Chemical bookings need an MSDS, and dangerous goods must be declared to the carrier and terminal in advance. Each terminal decides which classes it accepts and how long a DG box may wait, so get acceptance before the truck or train is booked.
China Customs inspects the packaging used for exported dangerous goods. Since July 2024 a nationwide pilot lets qualified exporters ship several lots of the same batch after one on-site check, with classes 6.2 and 7 excluded. Sea DG moves under the IMDG Code, 2024 edition (Amendment 42-24), mandatory since 1 January 2026.
- UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group.
- Safety Data Sheet for each product.
- China Customs packaging inspection results.
- Signed DG declaration and container packing certificate.
- Labels on packages and placards on the container.
DG cargo that arrives by rail needs the same papers before it reaches the port, because the rail and ocean legs run on separate schedules. At Jebel Ali some DG classes have strict time limits in the port. Our dangerous goods shipping team checks papers and carrier acceptance before you commit to a sailing.
Export customs at the Port of Lianyungang
Exports through Lianyungang are cleared by China Customs under the same national rules as any other Chinese port.
- The consignor, usually your supplier, files the export declaration itself or through a customs broker.
- The declaration is made once the goods reach the customs supervision area and 24 hours before loading.
- The exporter must hold a Registration of Foreign Trade Operators and be recorded with customs.
What is specific to Lianyungang is sea-rail cargo. For a box that comes in by train from inland China, ask your supplier where the export declaration is filed and make sure the value matches the invoice you give Dubai Customs.
Documents for a Lianyungang to Dubai shipment
| Document | Prepared by | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Supplier | China export declaration and Dubai Customs |
| Packing list | Supplier | Both customs authorities, the terminal and weight checks |
| China export declaration | Supplier or its broker | Export clearance before loading |
| Rail waybill, if sea-rail | Rail operator | Rail leg to the port |
| Bill of lading | Carrier or forwarder | Title to the goods and release in Dubai |
| Certificate of origin | Issuing body in China | Dubai Customs declaration |
| MSDS and DG papers, if any | Supplier | Carrier acceptance and port rules |
| UAE permit, if restricted | Consignee | Release of restricted goods in Dubai |
What happens when Lianyungang cargo arrives in Dubai?
The declaration goes to Dubai Customs with the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and any permit for restricted goods. Dubai Customs charges 5% duty on the CIF value of most goods, with 50% on alcohol and 100% on cigarettes. Import VAT is 5%, and a VAT-registered importer whose customs number is linked to its tax registration accounts for it on the VAT return instead of paying at the border. To file a declaration you need a Dubai Customs business code, or a licensed clearing agent can file with your authorisation. We arrange payment of the duty and VAT and collect the delivery order. Our Jebel Ali port guide covers terminals, trucking and declaration types at the Dubai end.
How to ship from Lianyungang to Dubai: step by step
- Agree the Incoterm with your supplier. FOB Lianyungang is usually simplest, because the supplier handles Chinese export clearance. Our Incoterms guide explains the options.
- Send us the cargo details: commodity, HS code, weight, volume or dimensions, supplier address, ready date and any DG.
- Get a quote and routing. We confirm the terminal (LPCT or LNOIT), the sailing and whether it goes direct or via a hub.
- If the cargo comes by rail, fix the rail plan and work back from the vessel cut-off.
- Check UAE permits for restricted goods and apply before the cargo sails.
- Book space. For DG, heavy or out-of-gauge cargo we get carrier acceptance first.
- The supplier or its broker files the export declaration, and the box gates in before the cut-off.
- We check the draft bill of lading against the invoice and packing list.
- We prepare the Dubai declaration before arrival, so clearance is ready when the vessel berths.
- We arrange payment of the duty, VAT and local charges, the delivery order is issued and the cargo is delivered.
Our Dubai freight forwarding team runs the UAE end and works with your supplier on the Lianyungang side.
How to ship from Dubai to Lianyungang
We also handle the other direction: shipping from Dubai to Lianyungang, usually in containers from Jebel Ali to the Miaoling terminals. We book the space, prepare the documents and handle the UAE export side. Chinese import clearance is done by the consignee in China or its customs broker.
The UAE export side
- We arrange trucking to Jebel Ali and file the export or re-export declaration with Dubai Customs before the cut-off.
- The commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin must agree on values, weights and HS codes, because the Chinese broker declares from the same papers.
- Chemicals and other DG need an SDS, a DG declaration and carrier acceptance under the IMDG Code before booking.
The China import side
- Who declares. The import consignee files the import declaration itself, or entrusts a customs broker. Consignees need the Registration of Foreign Trade Operators and must be recorded with customs.
- Time limit. The declaration is due within 14 days from the date the arrival of the ship is declared.
- Duty. China Customs charges duty at the rate in China's customs tariff for the HS code. The consignee's broker confirms the rate before you ship.
- Import VAT. Customs collects VAT on imported goods. Since the 2019 reform the main rates on imports are 13%, and 9% for some goods. China's VAT Law took effect on 1 January 2026, so the broker confirms the rate for each code.
- Send us the cargo details, the HS code, the UAE pickup address and the consignee's details in China.
- The consignee confirms its customs broker at Lianyungang and any licence the goods need.
- We book space from Jebel Ali to Lianyungang, direct or via a hub, and send you the cut-offs.
- We truck the cargo to Jebel Ali and file the UAE export or re-export declaration.
- We send the bill of lading, invoice, packing list and certificate of origin to the consignee's broker before arrival.
- The broker declares within the 14-day limit, and the consignee pays the duty and import VAT.
- The consignee's trucker collects the box from LPCT or LNOIT and returns the empty inside free time.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers and hub we actually use from Jebel Ali to Lianyungang, and our real port-to-port transit days in this direction]
What affects the cost of shipping from Lianyungang?
| Cost part | What moves it |
|---|---|
| Origin trucking, rail or barge | Distance, rail plan, water levels for barges |
| Origin port and export charges | Terminal handling, export declaration, LCL consolidation |
| Ocean freight | Direct or transshipment service, container type, season, surcharges |
| DG and out-of-gauge | DG surcharges, packaging inspection, flat rack premiums |
| Dubai charges and duty | Terminal handling, delivery order, 5% duty on CIF value |
| Delays | Demurrage and detention when free time runs out |
Checklist before you ship from Lianyungang
- Incoterm agreed and written in the contract.
- Terminal confirmed: LPCT or LNOIT at Miaoling.
- Rail plan submitted early for sea-rail cargo.
- HS code confirmed and UAE duty checked.
- Invoice, packing list and draft bill of lading match on weights, pieces and consignee.
- For DG: MSDS, packaging inspection results, DG declaration and carrier acceptance.
- Lunar New Year closures built into the plan.
Common mistakes when shipping through Lianyungang
- Booking rail and ocean separately. A late train misses the ship.
- Assuming a direct sailing. Many services transship, which adds days and handling.
- Leaving no buffer for empty pick-up while scheduling is still manual.
- Sending chemicals without an MSDS or advance DG declaration.
- Values that do not match. The Chinese export value and the Dubai invoice should agree.
Frequently asked questions
What is the port code for Lianyungang?
The UN/LOCODE for the Port of Lianyungang is CNLYG. It appears on bookings, bills of lading and tracking systems.
How big is the Port of Lianyungang?
Lianyungang handled 7,160,000 TEU in 2025, up 7%, and ranks 33rd in the Lloyd's List Top 100 Ports 2026. Total cargo was about 367 million tonnes.
Which terminal does my Lianyungang cargo load at?
Most international containers load at Miaoling, at either LYG-PSA Container Terminal (LPCT) or COSCO's New Oriental terminal (LNOIT). Your carrier's service decides, so check the booking.
How deep is the water at Lianyungang?
The main 300,000 DWT channel is over 20 m deep, and the biggest ships time their passage to the tide. LPCT lists a maximum depth of 16.5 m at chart datum along its 1,700 m quay.
What is the land bridge rail route from Lianyungang?
It is the rail corridor from Lianyungang across central and western China to Central Asia and Europe. It lets inland suppliers rail containers to the port for loading on ships.
Can I ship chemicals from Lianyungang to Dubai?
Yes. You need an MSDS, the UN number and class, China Customs packaging inspection results, a DG declaration and carrier acceptance under the IMDG Code.
Should I ship from Lianyungang or Qingdao?
Use the port nearest your supplier or rail line. Lianyungang suits northern Jiangsu and the land bridge provinces. Qingdao has more Gulf sailings. Compare the total cost to your door, not only the ocean rate.
Can you ship cargo from Dubai to Lianyungang?
Yes. We book the space from Jebel Ali and handle the UAE export declaration. The consignee in China or its customs broker files the import declaration within 14 days of the ship arriving and pays the duty and import VAT.
Get a quote for Port of Lianyungang shipping
Send us your supplier's location, cargo details and ready date, and we will come back with a routing and price from Lianyungang to Dubai. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to talk through a chemical, rail or project shipment first.
Sources
- Lloyd's List: 33 Lianyungang (China), Top 100 Ports 2026 (2025 and 2024 throughput, services)
- PSA: LYG-PSA Container Terminal factsheet, April 2026
- AJOT: COSCO SHIPPING Ports' Lianyungang New Oriental International Terminals (2018 volume)
- Wikipedia: Port of Lianyungang (zones, berths, 300,000 DWT channel, history)
- Bofeng Logistics: Port of Lianyungang (2025 cargo, operation areas, automation, operational notes)
- Fulfillbot: Major ports in China 2026 (Lianyungang 2025 figures)
- Jiangsu Provincial Government: Lianyungang land-sea logistics (rail routes, SCO park, China-Kazakhstan base)
- Invest in China: China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base
- CGTN: China-Europe freight trains from Lianyungang exceed 7,000 trips (June 2025)
- iContainers: Port of Lianyungang (UN/LOCODE, zones)
- Shanghai Municipal Government: China customs registration and declaration rules
- CIRS: China customs batch inspection pilot for DG packaging (July 2024)
- IMO: IMDG Code 2024 edition (Amendment 42-24)
- Dubai Customs: FAQ (duty, business code, clearing agents)
- State Council: China announces detailed VAT reform measures (13% and 9% rates on sales and imported goods, 2019)
- State Taxation Administration: China adopts law on value-added tax (effective 1 January 2026)
- Dubai Customs: Submit customs declaration (required documents)
- UAE Government portal: Clearing the customs and paying customs duty
- Federal Tax Authority: Taxable person guide for VAT (5% import VAT, reverse charge for registered importers)
Reviewed: 10 November 2026