Shipping remains a key focus for Chinese enterprises, as many companies have recognised that controlling critical supply chain links, especially global shipping channels, is the only way to maintain cost and delivery advantages in international markets. Shipping determines not only whether goods reach their destination smoothly, but also directly impacts delivery cycles, inventory turnover efficiency and overall operational costs. Transportation timeliness and logistics expenses are the core factors of greatest concern to businesses.
So, how should companies select an excellent shipping company? Let’s take a look at China’s top freight companies below:
How to choose the best international shipping company: Essential factors
- Reliability: When shipping internationally, it’s important to pick a company that you can trust to get your orders to you on time and in good shape.
- Price: The company that offers good prices, but don’t choose one just because it has the lowest price. This could affect the quality and dependability of the service.
- Speed: Remember that express shipping costs more than regular shipping most of the time. Think about how urgent the shipment is and pick the option that works best for you.
- Tracking: It’s important to be able to track packages so you can keep an eye on shipments and let your customers know what’s going on with their orders.
- Customer Service: Pick companies with good customer service so that if there are any problems with your shipments, you can get help quickly and easily.
China COSCO Shipping
China COSCO Shipping Corporation was established in 2016. It was formed from the restructuring of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company and China Shipping Group, which date back to 1961. As a large state-owned shipping and logistics enterprise under central administration, the Group specialises in international shipping, container transportation, dry bulk and oil & gas transportation, logistics, supply chain services, port and terminal investments, and related services. It is a global integrated shipping and logistics service provider.
- Annual throughput: The total carrying capacity of ships around the world is about 3.5 million TEU, and these ships carry hundreds of millions of TEU every year.
- Major routes: The main trade routes between Asia and Europe, China and the US, and Southeast Asia and other regions.
- Port operations: It owns shares in many ports around the world, including those in Shanghai, Ningbo, Antwerp, and others.
Evergreen Marine Corporation (EMC)
Evergreen Marine was established on 1 September 1968 in Taoyuan, Taiwan. As an international shipping company specialising in container transportation, it has evolved from single-cargo operations into a comprehensive container shipping operator. Its primary business involves container cargo transportation and related logistics services.
- Annual throughput: Global capacity of approximately 1.7–1.8 million TEU, ranking us among the top ten global shipping companies.
- Primary routes: Operates intercontinental and regional routes, including Asia–Europe, Asia–North America, and Asia–Australia.
- Port operations: Participates in international terminal cooperation and alliance resource support initiatives.
China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES)
China Merchants Energy Transportation Co., Ltd., established in 2004, specialises in providing global maritime transportation services for energy and bulk cargoes. The company’s core operations include transporting energy and bulk commodities by sea, including oil tankers, refined oil products, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and dry bulk cargoes. It is one of China’s leading energy shipping and transportation companies.
- Annual throughput: One of the world’s largest fleets operating a variety of energy carriers (VLCCs, LNG carriers, bulk carriers, etc.).
- Primary routes: We serve global energy trade lanes, connecting Asia, the Middle East and Africa, as well as transoceanic oil and gas transportation corridors.
- Port operations: Supported primarily by energy and logistics hubs in Shenzhen, Shanghai and other ports, and integrated with the operational network of China Merchants Port Holdings.
Oriental Overseas Container Line (OOCL)
Founded in 1947 and based in Hong Kong, Oriental Overseas Container Line is a leading global provider of international container shipping and logistics services. The company’s core businesses include worldwide container transportation, international logistics management and integrated freight services. The company delivers end-to-end cargo transportation and supply chain solutions to its customers through its global network.
- Annual throughput: Goods are transported across global shipping routes by a modern fleet of large vessels with diverse container-carrying capacities.
- Primary routes: Routes span major global trade corridors, including those in Asia, Europe, North America, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Australia/New Zealand.
- Port Operations: We own or operate dedicated container terminals in Asia, North America and other regions to support global supply chains.
YangMing Marine Transport Corp (YML）
Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation was set up on 28 December 1972 and is based in Keelung, Taiwan. The company is a big shipping business. It mostly provides international container shipping and logistics services. It operates on many international trade routes and provides port and related services to support the global supply chain.
- Annual throughput: The company can carry around one million containers the size of TEU. It is always in the top ten or twenty container shipping companies in the world.
- Primary routes: It covers trade between Asia and North America, Asia and Europe, and trade within Asia.
- Port operations: It works together with its shipping network and alliance partners to share port resources, and it provides logistics and container services.
China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL)
China Shipping Container Lines was set up in 1997 as one of China’s main container shipping companies. Its main activities are global container transportation services and liner shipping operations. It is now part of the China COSCO Shipping Group system, working with COSCO’s shipping network to jointly run global container cargo transportation.
- Primary routes: It operates key container shipping routes around the world, which are connected to COSCO’s global network.
- Port operations: COSCO and its partner terminals work together to make sure that all the port’s resources are well organised.
Wan Hai Lines (WHL)
The Wan Hai Lines company was founded on 24 February 1965. This is one of the top container shipping companies in Taiwan. It specialises in maritime container services. These cover international routes across Asia, North America, South America, Africa and the Middle East. It provides support for transporting containers and for logistics in regional and global trade.
- Annual throughput: Fleet capacity is in the top middle group among global container shipping companies, with a worldwide route network covering major cargo regions.
- Primary routes: It focuses on serving the Asia-Pacific, trans-Pacific and Asia-Australia trade lanes.
- Port operations: It works with many ports in Asia to provide services that help with container trade in the region.
Ningbo Ocean Shipping
Ningbo Shipping was set up in 1990. This company moves goods in containers around mainland China. It is specialised in sending containers and driving routes in the country. The company uses hub ports like Ningbo Port to transport goods around the world. This means that the company has a big influence on the Asian regional market.
- Annual throughput: It is ranked between 20th and 30th among the world’s largest shipping companies and has a substantial fleet of ships.
- Primary routes: It operates on domestic, coastal and international routes across Asia, facilitating trade logistics in the region.
- Port operations: The company uses Ningbo and the surrounding port hubs to handle important cargo and support transport.
Haifeng International Holdings Limited (SITC)
Haifeng International Holdings was founded in 1991 and is based in Hong Kong and mainland China. It is a company that transports containers and provides integrated logistics services. Its main businesses are international container shipping, freight forwarding, warehousing, and supply chain solutions. The company’s regional network connects major trade markets like China, Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea.
- Annual throughput: The fleet is one of the top 20 container shipping lines in the world, with a capacity of over 100,000 TEU.
- Primary routes: The focus is on regional routes in Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia.
- Port operations: Warehouses and container yards are run in China, Vietnam and other places to support route operations.
Choosing Ssfeshipping means choosing professionalism and trust.
In a time of rising tensions between China and the US over trade, and a fierce global competition for logistics, logistics is about more than just transportation. It is an important part of how companies expand into other countries. Ssfeshipping is a trusted Chinese freight forwarder. We help Chinese enterprises with complex shipping processes and high costs. We help them expand global markets with efficient, secure and flexible solutions.
Ssfeshipping—making international shipping easier, safer and more reliable. Get in touch today to get a customised solution for your overseas shipping plans.
