As pivotal hubs in the global trade and logistics network, the port industry is a key sector for green transformation under the "Dual Carbon" goals. Recently, Hainan Green Development Credit Rating Co., Ltd. released its active ESG rating results for A-share listed companies. Leading port enterprises, guided by green operations and intelligent connectivity services, are accelerating the industry's shift from traditional operational models towards a smart and green transformation.
The rating distribution reveals that the industry's overall rating performance is favorable, with levels concentrated between AApi and Api. The active rating results show that port companies generally achieved a rating of A+pi or higher, with no enterprises rated below BBpi, fully demonstrating the solid foundation and proactive practices of the port industry in the field of sustainable development. Among the 16 port enterprises, three companies—China Merchants Port, Ningbo Zhoushan Port, and Qinhuangdao Port—received an AApi rating; Tianjin Port, Qingdao Port, Tangshan Port, Chongqing Port, and Xiamen Port received an AA-pi rating; Shanghai International Port, Liaoning Port, Beibu Gulf Port, and Yantian Port received an A+pi rating; Rizhao Port, Nanjing Port, and Guangzhou Port received an Api rating; Lianyungang Port received a BB+pi rating, creating a gap with other listed companies.
Focusing on low-carbon operations, the industry is tackling the普及 of shore power and the substitution of clean energy. Ports, being high-energy-consumption and high-emission scenarios, place low-carbon transformation and pollution control at the core of their environmental dimension. Key focuses include the普及 of shore power facilities, clean energy substitution, pollutant and waste treatment, and ecological restoration within port areas, while also needing to build a fully green supply chain to promote low-carbon coordination across upstream and downstream logistics links.
Regarding the environmental dimension, several companies including Tangshan Port, China Merchants Port, and Qinhuangdao Port received an AA-pi rating. The core reason lies in these enterprises deeply integrating green development concepts into their entire operational process, demonstrating solid practices in addressing climate change, resource recycling, and pollutant emission control, along with comprehensive and detailed disclosure of environmental performance data.
China Merchants Port is piloting climate scenario analysis, advancing wind-solar complementary energy projects and the electrification transformation of fuel-powered equipment, continuously expanding the scale of green energy usage to strengthen climate risk response; Ningbo Zhoushan Port has built the province's first green-energy-driven terminal, achieving a 100% shore power coverage rate except for special berths, significantly increasing clean energy usage, and fully commissioning the integrated wind-power-storage-hydrogen project at Chuanshan Port Area; Qinhuangdao Port has created the nation's first five-star green port area, achieved full shore power coverage for coal berths, ensured stable operation of its distributed photovoltaic power generation system, and innovated dust control technology to achieve low emissions.
Anchoring on hub value, companies are strengthening supply chain resilience and regional synergistic empowerment. The social value of port enterprises needs to focus on three aspects: firstly, ensuring supply chain stability and enhancing customs clearance efficiency and logistics resilience; secondly, optimizing customer service experience and reducing logistics costs for small and medium-sized enterprises; thirdly, empowering the regional economy by driving employment, supporting local industrial synergy, while simultaneously strengthening safety production and safeguarding employee rights.
Leading enterprises have generally established supplier ESG准入 and dynamic assessment systems in supply chain management, building compliance and traceability mechanisms through digital technology, and using data platforms to monitor supplier environmental compliance and social responsibility performance in real-time, allowing for timely adjustment of cooperation strategies to ensure all supply chain links meet sustainable development standards and guarantee a stable and sustainable supply chain.
In terms of customer service and social contribution, Qingdao Port has optimized collection and distribution efficiency to help reduce logistics costs, Ningbo Zhoushan Port has extended its inland service network to enhance its辐射 capacity, and Qinhuangdao Port has benefited surrounding communities through port-city integration projects. Most enterprises actively participate in rural revitalization and public charity, making continuous investments in areas such as educational support, ecological protection, and emergency disaster relief. By establishing dedicated public welfare funds and organizing employee volunteer activities, they integrate social responsibility into daily operations, forming a long-term accountability mechanism.
Regarding employee rights protection, most companies have established comprehensive skills training systems covering diverse courses such as practical job skills and professional素养, promoting talent cultivation and career development通道 construction, clarifying promotion paths and incentive mechanisms. They also prioritize safety production and occupational health, regularly conducting safety drills and health check-ups, establishing employee communication and feedback channels, and building an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace environment.
Building specialized ESG structures aims to align performance with strategy. In the governance dimension, leading port enterprises have generally established a clear, hierarchical ESG governance structure with well-defined responsibilities, forming a complete闭环 from strategy formulation to implementation. The board of directors fully plays a coordinating and leading role, clarifying the core position of ESG in corporate development and integrating sustainable development concepts into long-term strategic planning, overseeing major decision-making and deployments; specialized committees under the board细化分工 and coordinate resources, promoting the orderly development of ESG-related work. Furthermore, key ESG indicators are broken down into quantifiable, assessable evaluation standards and fully incorporated into the management performance appraisal system, linked to compensation incentives and promotion mechanisms to strengthen accountability. Various business departments and subsidiary companies have clear ESG responsibility lists and established regular communication and coordination mechanisms to ensure the layered implementation and effective execution of various measures.
Ningbo Zhoushan Port has compiled and published an ESG management manual, clarifying ESG management objectives, workflows, and responsible entities through the manual, providing institutional support for full-process compliance operations. Twenty-three of its units have passed compliance management system certification, and integrity education achieves full employee coverage; Qinhuangdao Port became the first provincial-owned enterprise in Hebei Province to obtain compliance management system certification. Relying on a standardized and efficient board operation mechanism, it efficiently coordinates the implementation of ESG strategy, and a sound risk prevention and control system covers all key operational links, building a solid institutional guarantee for the enterprise's sustainable development.
The industry is moving towards deep integration of green and smart technologies, and synergistic共生. Overall, the ESG development trend in the port industry is positive. Leading enterprises, leveraging advantages in capital, technology, and management, have formed replicable示范经验 in green port construction, governance structure optimization, and intelligent transformation, setting benchmarks for the industry.
Looking ahead, driven by the "Dual Carbon" goals and the upgrading of global trade, ESG practices in the port industry are expected to show three major trends: firstly, green transformation will deepen towards full-chain intelligent connectivity. Ports will accelerate the integration of "green + smart," using digital technology to optimize energy dispatch and precisely control emissions, while simultaneously promoting low-carbon coordination in upstream and downstream logistics links, building an integrated "port-shipping-city" green ecosystem. Secondly, social value will upgrade towards "hub empowerment." Ports will transition from logistics nodes to trade service hubs, strengthening supply chain resilience and service quality/efficiency, while deepening regional industrial synergy, helping SMEs reduce costs and increase efficiency, and enhancing the port's支撑 value for the real economy. Thirdly, governance systems will advance towards digitalization and transparency. More port enterprises will establish digital management platforms to achieve real-time monitoring and disclosure of environmental data, operational compliance, and social responsibility, while deeply binding ESG performance with employee incentives and supply chain cooperation.
As the "Dual Carbon" goals advance further and the demand for high-quality development in the port and shipping industry grows, port enterprises need to further deepen their green transformation, expand the boundaries of social responsibility, and strengthen the integration of governance and business operations. Enhancing ESG capabilities will drive green synergy across the industrial chain's upstream and downstream,助力 the optimization of international trade channels, provide solid support for the nation's energy structure transformation and smooth economic circulation, and reinforce the port foundation for high-quality economic development.
