Why is China investing in European ports?

China is increasingly investing in key European infrastructure, including ports. This is something that has drawn attention at both EU and Member State level, in particular regarding strategic dependency on China and how it affects the EU's economic interests.

How much does the EU export to China?

In 2021, the EU exported €223 billion of goods to China and imported goods worth €472 billion. China is thereby Europe's foremost trading partner when it comes to imports of goods, of which a substantial part passes through EU ports, in particular maritime ports.

Where are China's economic interests in European ports?

In line with this strategy, Chinese firms have since been developing economic interests in ports in European counties, including Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Italy.

What role does China play in European logistics?

In one scenario, China plays a strong role in European logistics or becomes influential to the point of strategic dependence on China.

Do China's water transport ships still use diesel-powered propulsion systems?

At present, more than 90% of China's water transport ships still use diesel-powered propulsion systems, which have issues such as high fuel costs, high noise levels, and pollution emissions. Compared with traditional ship power systems, the ecological advantages and comprehensive benefits of electric propulsion-type ships are obvious.

Where is the largest inland container terminal in Europe?

Duisburg - a city in western Germany - not only has the largest inland container terminal in Europe. A new beacon project for distributed, climate-neutral power generation is also being built here. The precise location – 'the coal islands' – is interesting, since these served as a trans-shipment site for coal all the way up to 2020.