China’s Pinglu Canal Opens New Trade Routes for Inland Provinces

Pinglu Canal Opens New Maritime Route for Southwest China

The newly opened Pinglu Canal in southern China has transported more than 1 million tons of cargo since launching operations on September 16, 2026, according to the Xinhua News Agency, citing the Beibu Gulf Port Group. Spanning 134.2 kilometers and constructed with an investment of 72.7 billion yuan (about 10.75 billion U.S. dollars), the channel links waterways around Nanning to the waters of Qinzhou, granting landlocked regions in southwestern China a swift passage toward ocean and foreign destinations.

Cargo Volumes Reach Major Milestone in First Month

As reported by the Xinhua News Agency, the cargo throughput benchmark was attained roughly around 9 am on a Saturday when the ship Guigang Haitong 6688 navigated upstream past the ship lock situated at the canal’s Madao hub. Analysts noted that initial performance matches expectations and predicted traffic will grow as companies shift away from traditional road and rail transport. During the National Day holidays, daily cargo throughput at Qinzhou Terminal peaked at 67,800 tons, setting a new record since the canal opened to navigation.

Engineering and Logistics Innovations Along the Waterway

The canal accommodates vessels of up to 5,000 metric tons and shortens the journey to the sea by more than 560 kilometers compared with traditional routes through Guangzhou in Guangdong Province. To overcome a 65-meter difference in water level—roughly the height of a 20-plus-story building—constructors built three navigation hubs featuring twin-line ship locks. Guangxi transport authorities have integrated maritime, waterway, port, and weather data into a unified scheduling platform to streamline vessel passage and port operations.

Expanding Trade Links Across Guangxi and ASEAN

Freight services currently connect Nanning with Can Tho in Vietnam and Yangpu in Hainan province, carrying goods originating from Sichuan, Hunan, Guizhou, and Yunnan. Lu Xinning, vice chairperson of the regional government of Guangxi, stated that the canal links China’s market with ASEAN’s nearly 700 million consumers, creating new cross-border investment opportunities. In the first nine months, foreign trade container throughput at Qinzhou Port reached 1.34 million TEUs, marking a 31 percent year-on-year increase, according to Wu Weibin, deputy director of the regional Beibu Gulf port administration center.

Future Projections and Projected Cost Savings

The canal is expected to reduce overall logistics costs by 18 to 30 percent and save more than 5 billion yuan in transportation expenses annually. He Junhui, director of the engineering management department of the Pinglu Canal Group, stated in August that cargo throughput is projected to reach about 5 million metric tons in 2026 and 40 million metric tons by 2027.