50,000 Tons: Zhoushan Port Welcomes Ethane Vessel from the United States (US)

In the month of July, beneath the sparkling waves of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the shifting dynamics of global trade are reflected in the creaking of mooring ropes of massive ships—at the beginning of July, the United States lifted the restrictions on ethane exports to China.

On July 29, China and the United States reached an agreement in Stockholm, Sweden, to extend the tariff suspension. The 24% reciprocal tariffs and China’s countermeasures that had been suspended will be extended for 90 days, injecting more certainty into China-U.S. economic and trade relations as well as the global economic landscape.

CCTV Finance Channel focused its camera on Ningbo Zhoushan Port: the "PACIFIC INEOS GRENADIER," carrying 50,000 tons of American ethane, docked at Liwan Terminal. As the first ethane carrier to arrive in China after the policy thaw, its successful unloading marks a breakthrough and restart in international energy trade, ushering in a key turning point for the high-end petrochemical raw material supply chain in the Yangtze River Delta.

Chang Wenming, General Manager of Ningbo Huatai Shengfu under Hong Kong Liwan Group, and Pan Quanwang, General Manager of Ningbo Liwan New Materials, were interviewed on site by CCTV, showcasing the strong commitment of Chinese enterprises to seizing international business opportunities and safeguarding the security of the industrial chain.

In the special report, the national media strategy focuses on this historic berthing moment—providing a panoramic view of the 230-meter-long dual-fuel ethane carrier berthing at the 50,000-ton specialized terminal in Liwan. The unloading arms are precisely connected, and the intelligent loading and unloading system efficiently discharges the cargo, showcasing the Chinese standard for international hazardous chemicals logistics and transportation.

CCTV reporter conducting a live interview with the head of a Liwan Group subsidiary.

Chang Wenming, General Manager of Ningbo Huatai Shengfu, pointed out: "Currently, the United States is the world's largest exporter of ethane, accounting for more than 95% of global ethane exports. This ethane carrier is loaded with 50,000 tons, and our company is unloading 20,000 tons, which will meet 13 days of production demand. We have established a full-chain service system of 'international procurement-port storage and transportation-direct supply to the industrial park,' ensuring an uninterrupted supply of key raw materials!"

Pan Quanwang, General Manager of Ningbo Liwan New Materials, explained in detail in front of the camera: “The vessel set sail from Houston, USA, carrying 50,000 tons of ethane, and after a 32-day voyage across the Pacific Ocean, arrived directly at the Liwan liquefied hydrocarbon terminal at Ningbo Zhoushan Port. We have already secured the supply of 7 ethane vessels and 140,000 tons of raw materials for the period from August to October, providing a stable ‘industrial lifeblood’ for petrochemical enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta.”

It is understood that the docking and unloading of the ethane vessel was under special supervision by the maritime authorities, while the customs department opened a "green channel for immediate unloading upon arrival" to expedite clearance efficiency. The collaboration between government and enterprises ultimately accelerated the industry's recovery, demonstrating the government's care and attention to our companies as well as its strategic determination to ensure energy security. When the ethane unloading arm is raised, it lifts not only raw materials but also the production hopes of thousands of enterprises. From Houston to Ningbo, the revival of this route is a reflection of China's high-level opening-up to the outside world!

Ningbo Huatai Shengfu possesses a 600,000 tons/year propane dehydrogenation unit, a 400,000 tons/year polyethylene unit, a 400,000 tons/year styrene unit, as well as the country's largest 160,000 m³ cryogenic ethane storage tank and other comprehensive supporting facilities. Ningbo Liwan New Materials has a 400,000 tons/year polystyrene production unit, a 50,000-ton liquid hydrocarbon terminal, along with storage, logistics transportation pipelines, and other complete safety production supporting facilities. Currently, the Liwan Group has launched a green, low-carbon, hydrogen-rich high-end polymer materials project. In the future, it will continuously activate the transportation and storage industry chain, drive the aggregation of downstream enterprises, open up the chemical industry lifeline, create regional economic composite value, and stabilize China’s economic bloodstream.