Q1 cargo throughput at Three Gorges hub tops 36 million tons
2026-04-01 20:04:03
By Hu Yikai.
The Three Gorges hub handled 36.23 million tons of cargo in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Three Gorges Navigation Authority. The ship lift carried 106,000 passengers, a 50.5 percent increase year on year.
A total of 9,212 vessels passed through the hub, with 3,128 lock operations recorded.
The Three Gorges hub handled 36.23 million tons of cargo in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Three Gorges Navigation Authority. The ship lift carried 106,000 passengers, a 50.5 percent increase year on year.
A total of 9,212 vessels passed through the hub, with 3,128 lock operations recorded.
Aerial view of the Three Gorges ship locks. Photo by Li Guangqiang.
In Yichang, local authorities are helping shipping companies replace outdated vessels. The city's transportation bureau has facilitated financing deals totaling 3.12 billion yuan (US$432 million) between banks and local shipping firms. Last year, Yichang dismantled 75 old vessels and distributed 220 million yuan in subsidies, the highest amount in the province.
Navigation management faced increased pressure during the quarter due to scheduled maintenance at the Three Gorges south lock and the Gezhouba No. 2 lock, combined with heavy rain and fog. The navigation authority implemented measures to maintain efficiency, including coordinating vessel flow, adjusting anchorage zones, changing directions for ships passing through the lock, and continuously updating draft requirements.
Liu Yue and Chen Yao also contributed to this story.
Navigation management faced increased pressure during the quarter due to scheduled maintenance at the Three Gorges south lock and the Gezhouba No. 2 lock, combined with heavy rain and fog. The navigation authority implemented measures to maintain efficiency, including coordinating vessel flow, adjusting anchorage zones, changing directions for ships passing through the lock, and continuously updating draft requirements.
Liu Yue and Chen Yao also contributed to this story.
