Tianjin Port exports its green‑port tech to Saudi Arabia, turning a 20% efficiency gain into a tradeable solution

HIGHLIGHTS

The first phase of a Chinese smart‑port system developed by Tianjin Port is due for delivery to Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Port in the coming months — the first export of a Chinese smart‑port solution. The initial shipment comprises two autonomous transport vehicles, an automated charging system and a transportation dispatch platform. Testing, commissioning and technical support are included, and more equipment is expected as the Saudi port’s construction advances.

Behind the sale is an operational track record. Tianjin Port’s smart zero‑carbon terminal runs on a 5G private network, Beidou positioning and AI algorithms. The system handles 92 driverless vehicles and coordinates key equipment in real time. Beidou gives centimetre‑level positioning; AI optimises cargo handling and scheduling. The result is an efficiency uplift of approximately 20% over conventional terminals, according to Kong Xichao, an equipment operations supervisor in the terminal’s IT department.

The energy side is just as quantified. Renewable generation across the port delivers about 350 million kilowatt‑hours a year, covering roughly 70% of operational power demand. Hydrogen‑powered heavy‑duty trucks are also running. The terminal is not a pilot — it has China’s Artificial Intelligence Management System Certification.

Tianjin Port Group vice‑president Yang Jiemin said the model is “replicable” for traditional ports seeking full‑process automation and energy self‑sufficiency. The NEOM deal gives that claim a commercial test.

The broader energy transition in Tianjin adds scale. State Grid Tianjin Electric Power says the city’s installed new‑energy capacity topped 14.8 GW by end‑2025, nearly half the city’s total — making new energy the largest power source, ahead of coal.