Partenariats : HAROPA PORT strengthens ties with China through a strategic partnership with the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan

A forward-looking partnership

As the world’s leading port by cargo tonnage and third in container traffic, Ningbo-Zhoushan is a key player in global maritime trade. By partnering with this strategic hub, HAROPA PORT reaffirms its commitment to working alongside global leaders to drive innovation and sustainability in the port sector.

The agreement focuses on four priority areas:

• decarbonization of port activities in the frame of a green corridor creation,
• exchanges on smart port technologies,
• best practices and know-how, the improvement and optimization of massified maritime traffic,
• the improvement of hinterland connections in a frame of multimodality. 

A shared ambition for sustainable ports

This partnership is fully aligned with the environmental strategy HAROPA PORT has pursued. Through the development of a green logistics corridor along the Seine axis, shore power infrastructure, participating to the "New Fuels Valley" development (H², e-SAF, CCS, lithium refining projects) and enhancing inland navigation to supply Paris metropolitan area, HAROPA PORT is actively contributing to low-carbon logistics.

A long-standing relationship with China

With €95 billion of commercial trades, China stands is the fifth largest trading partner for France, and HAROPA PORT’s number one.

This new agreement builds on a strong foundation of long-term relations:

• since 1990, the cities of Rouen and Ningbo have maintained a privileged exchange partnership,
• since 1985, the city of Le Havre has been twinned with the Municipality of Dalian.

In March 2025, HAROPA PORT hosted an official delegation from Ningbo to Rouen and Le Havre, announcing promising opportunities for cooperation and commercial exchanges. This partnership extends beyond maritime activities, fostering closer economic and cultural ties.