Container Storage in Shenzhen, China — The Southern Logistics Powerhouse

Container Storage in Shenzhen, China — The Southern Logistics Powerhouse for African Imports

Shenzhen is one of the world's top three container ports, the primary maritime gateway of South China, and a critical logistics hub for the Pearl River Delta. For African importers across West, East, North, and Southern Africa, this port holds exceptional strategic value thanks to its location at the heart of China's most industrialized region, advanced automation technologies, and an extensive network of direct sailings to African gateways.

My Containers provides depot container storage and handling services at partner depots in the Port of Shenzhen — delivering comprehensive logistics solutions tailored to African businesses.

Why the Port of Shenzhen Matters for African Logistics

Global Standing

Shenzhen consistently ranks among the world's top three container ports, alongside Shanghai and Singapore. This is not just a port — it is a critical node in global supply chains, channeling goods from one of the planet's most industrially developed zones: the Pearl River Delta. For African importers, this translates into unmatched product variety and competitive pricing.

Strategic Location

Shenzhen is located in Guangdong Province, directly bordering Hong Kong. This gives the port a unique advantage: direct access to manufacturing hubs in Dongguan, Foshan, and Zhongshan — global centers for electronics, furniture, toys, textiles, and industrial equipment. For African importers, this means minimal inland Chinese logistics costs and maximum sourcing flexibility.

Two Main Port Clusters

The Port of Shenzhen consists of two primary container districts:

• Yantian — the port's largest deep-water container depot, located in the east

• Shekou & Chiwan — depots in the western part of the port, in the Nanshan district

My Containers Partner Yards Near Key Shenzhen depots

1. Yantian International Container depots (YICT) — The Flagship depot

YICT is the most powerful container depot in the Port of Shenzhen, operating since 1994. Its mission is to provide efficient market access for South Chinese manufacturers to global markets — including Africa.

depot Specifications:

• 24/7 operations, 365 days a year

• Accommodates the world's largest container vessels

• Equipped with modern cranes and automation systems

• Developed multimodal transport network

• Direct weekly services to Lagos, Mombasa, Durban, Tema, and other major African gateways

2. Shekou Container depots (SCT) — The Key Western depot

Shekou is the port's second-largest container depot, located in the Nanshan district.

depot Specifications:

• 24/7 operations

• Deep-water berths for vessels of all classes

• Developed infrastructure for container storage and handling

• Integrated with the Qianhai Free Trade Zone — ideal for bonded storage and re-export operations to African markets

3. Chiwan Container depots (CCT) — The Southern Hub

Chiwan is another key depot in the western part of the port, specializing in container shipping.

depot Specifications:

• 15 berths, total quay length exceeding 4 km

• Annual capacity of over 4 million TEU

• Berth depth up to 15.5 meters

• Equipped with modern Super Post-Panamax gantry cranes

• depot area approximately 1.43 km²

My Containers Services at Shenzhen depots & Container Yards

Our partner depots and yards offer a full range of services for African cargo owners and container fleet operators:

1. Container Storage

• Secure storage of empty and laden containers (20ft, 40ft, reefers) at guarded yard facilities.

• Specialized reefer container zones with grid-connected power supply and pre-cooling capabilities — ideal for African importers of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and temperature-sensitive goods.

• Areas for both long-term and short-term storage across any volume.

2. Container Handling at Partner-Adjacent depots

• Receiving and dispatching containers from ocean vessels at deep-water berths.

• Sea-rail transshipment — a network of 31 routes connecting Shenzhen to 14 inland dry ports.

• Sea-river transshipment — shuttle services to Pearl River Delta ports (Zhongshan, Shunde, Zhuhai, Jiangmen, etc.).

• Cargo consolidation and deconsolidation

3. Value-Added Services

• Photo documentation and condition inspection of containers at intake and release.

• Container repair, cleaning, washing, and maintenance.

• Integration with the SCAT tracking system.

• PTI (Pre-Trip Inspection) testing for reefer containers.

4. Delivery Routes to Africa

While we do not operate carriage services ourselves, our partner container yards participate in popular routes for consolidating empty and laden containers destined for African markets. Through Shenzhen depots, several routing options are available:

• Direct ocean freight to West Africa:

  • Lagos (Apapa/Tin Can), Nigeria — 35–42 days

  • Tema, Ghana — 33–40 days

  • Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire — 37–44 days

  • Dakar, Senegal — 40–48 days

  • Cotonou, Benin — 36–43 days

• Direct ocean freight to East Africa:

  • Mombasa, Kenya — 20–25 days

  • Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — 22–27 days

  • Djibouti — 18–23 days

  • Port Sudan — 20–25 days

• Direct ocean freight to Southern Africa:

  • Durban, South Africa — 25–30 days

  • Cape Town, South Africa — 28–33 days

  • Port Elizabeth, South Africa — 27–32 days

  • Maputo, Mozambique — 24–29 days

• Direct ocean freight to North Africa:

  • Alexandria/Port Said, Egypt — 23–28 days

  • Casablanca, Morocco — 30–35 days

  • Tunis, Tunisia — 28–33 days

  • Algiers, Algeria — 30–35 days

• Multimodal combinations via transshipment hubs (Singapore, Colombo, Salalah, Tanjung Pelepas) for smaller African ports.

Advantages of Routing Through Shenzhen for African Importers

• Access to South China's largest manufacturing base: Shenzhen is the center of electronics, smartphones, automotive components, toys, furniture, textiles, and consumer goods production — all key import categories across African markets.

• 24/7 operations: All partner container yards operate around the clock, enabling delay-free container processing — critical for African supply chains operating on tight schedules.

• Specialized reefer facilities: Dedicated infrastructure for temperature-sensitive cargo including pharmaceuticals, processed foods, and chemicals.

Why My Containers Is Your Trusted Partner in Shenzhen

• Access to all key depots: YICT, SCT, CCT, and private operators (including Nova Logistics and others).

• Competitive rates on storage, transshipment, and depot operations.

• Dedicated account manager for every project — a single point of contact for all inquiries.

To request a current rate for container storage or handling at the Port of Shenzhen, submit an inquiry to our team. 

*The information on this page does not constitute a public offer.

*My Containers is a partner of My Way.