The title of the world`s largest port and the `small funnel` in Georgia

2026-06-10

The port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in China has held the title of the world's largest port in terms of cargo turnover for 17 consecutive years. In 2025, it became the first port in history to handle more than 1.4 billion tons of cargo. It has 309 container routes connecting more than 700 ports in more than 200 countries.

If we compare this port with the Port of Lianyungang, from where the "Middle Corridor" begins, we will see that the difference is huge, despite the fact that Lianyungang is a very strategic and important port even within China. This port handled 367 million tons in 2025.

Poti handled 8 million tons of cargo in 2025.

That is, at one end of the corridor there is a seaport that is 45 times larger than the port at the other end.

This means that the huge transit ocean on the east coast of China encounters a small “kitchen funnel” when entering Georgia.

The port of Lianyungang is served by 2,365 employees. The port of Poti - about 1,200 employees. That is, it does 45 times more work with 2 times more employees.

The picture will change significantly in the case of “Anaklia”. According to the master plan, if all phases are fully completed, the maximum annual cargo handling capacity of the port should be 100 million tons. That is, “Anaklia” will be almost 4 times smaller than the port of Lianyungang. This is another matter.

Dato Gochava, Professional Railwaymen's Club