The Belt and Road Initiative: Port Development Along the Maritime Silk Road — Global LOCODE Hub
Published: 2026-07-01 · Global LOCODE Hub Research
The Maritime Silk Road Strategy
China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has invested over $100 billion in port infrastructure across 40+ countries since 2013. The Maritime Silk Road — the maritime component of BRI — follows the ancient trading routes from China's coast through the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, and Suez Canal to Europe. Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) now operate terminals in over 30 ports worldwide.
Key BRI Port Investments
| Port | Chinese Operator | Investment | Strategic Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khalifa Port (UAE) | COSCO Shipping (90%) | $738M | Gulf transshipment hub |
| Djibouti Port | China Merchants | $590M | Ethiopia gateway + naval base |
| Port Said (Egypt) | Hutchison/CMHI | $600M+ | Suez Canal transshipment |
| Mombasa (Kenya) | China Roads & Bridges | $3.2B (SGR) | East Africa corridor |
| Tema (Ghana) | APM/Bolloré/China | $1.5B | West Africa gateway |
The COSCO Global Network
COSCO Shipping Ports operates 51 terminals across 36 ports on every inhabited continent. The acquisition of OOCL's Long Beach Terminal (2017) and majority stakes in Khalifa Port and Piraeus give COSCO a network that competes directly with APM Terminals and PSA International. For shippers, COSCO-controlled terminals often offer preferential berthing and handling rates for COSCO/OOCL vessel strings.
Implications for Freight Forwarders
- BRI-connected ports increasingly offer integrated rail-port-logistics corridors (e.g., Djibouti-Addis Ababa SGR, Mombasa-Nairobi SGR).
- Chinese-operated terminals may have different documentation requirements and customs procedures compared to Western-operated terminals.
- BRI ports are generally newer and deeper-drafted, accommodating larger vessels that older colonial-era ports cannot.
- Geopolitical risk assessment is essential — some BRI port investments face local opposition over debt sustainability concerns.
Data sourced from UNECE UN/LOCODE Directory and port authority publications. For reference only.