- Ningbo port shipped 219,000 new energy vehicles worth roughly 25 billion yuan in the first half, with exports more than doubling year on year
- Brazil, Europe and the Middle East are emerging as key growth markets as Chinese EV makers expand their global footprint
Ningbo’s role as an export hub for China’s electric vehicle industry is accelerating, with new energy vehicle shipments through the port more than doubling in the first half of the year.
According to the latest data from Ningbo Customs, the Ningbo port exported 219,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs) worth 25.04 billion yuan ($3.7 billion) in the first six months, up 104.7% and 104.2% year on year respectively.
NEVs accounted for 81.3% of Ningbo’s total vehicle export value during the period, making electric cars the dominant driver of the city’s automotive exports.
Overall, Ningbo port’s vehicle exports reached 30.79 billion yuan in the first half.
The surge reflects the rapid overseas expansion of Chinese EV manufacturers, as global demand for affordable electric vehicles continues to rise.
At Ningbo-Zhoushan Port‘s Meishan terminal on July 29, rows of newly manufactured electric vehicles moved through a dedicated loading area at CITIC Gangtong’s automobile container yard, where vehicles were loaded, inspected and sealed before shipment.
“We handled more than 25,000 vehicles through container loading operations in the first half, with NEV container shipments increasing by nearly 200% year on year,” Zhang Peng, deputy general manager of CITIC Gangtong, was quoted as saying in a report published by local portal Tide News.
Europe and emerging markets
Ningbo’s NEV exports are gaining traction across both established and emerging markets.
Brazil, the European Union and Jordan ranked as the top three destinations by export value in the first half, with shipments worth 7.88 billion yuan, 4.33 billion yuan and 2.07 billion yuan respectively. Exports to these markets rose 152.2%, 275.1% and 166.7% year on year.
The UK market showed particularly strong momentum. NEV exports to Britain reached 1.89 billion yuan, soaring 664% from a year earlier and entering Ningbo’s top five export markets.
Middle Eastern markets also recorded rapid growth. Export value to Oman and Qatar jumped 65.2 times and 14.7 times respectively, highlighting growing demand for Chinese electric vehicles in emerging markets.
Customs upgrades support export boom
To handle the increasing volume and frequency of vehicle exports, Ningbo Customs has introduced a “one-stop” supervision model for NEV container exports.
Under this model, customs officials integrated vehicle loading, inspection and customs procedures at the same site to reduce processing time.
Chen Xue, head of Ningbo Xiahe Supply Chain Management, which has long provided vehicle export services in the city, told Tide News that the company handled exports of more than 50,000 vehicles in the first half, up around 15% from a year earlier. NEVs accounted for more than half of those shipments.
Geely leads Zhejiang’s EV export drive
Within Zhejiang’s NEV industry chain, Geely Automobile remains one of the major exporters.
The company exported 277,000 new energy vehicles in the first half, a 5.9-fold increase year on year, according to industry data.
From traditional markets such as Europe and Brazil to fast-growing destinations in the UK and the Middle East, Chinese electric vehicle makers are rapidly expanding their global presence.
Ningbo’s doubling NEV exports offer a snapshot of a broader trend: China’s EV industry is moving from domestic competition toward global market expansion, with ports, supply chains and manufacturing ecosystems becoming critical enablers of the country’s automotive ambitions overseas.
