In 1972, the first
container ships entered the Port of Dalian, and inaugurated China's first container routes. In 1973, the port handled 21.5 million tons. The Port of Dalian consists of
Daliangang,
Dalianwan,
Xianglujiao,
Nianyuwan,
Ganjinzi,
Heizuizi,
Si'ergou and
Dayaowan port areas. Port of
Dalian is owned and managed by the state-owned
Dalian Port Corporation Limited. It has established trading and shipping links with more than 300 ports in 160 countries and regions of the world. There are 68 international and domestic container shipping routes. Port of Dalian handles at least 100 million in
cargo throughput annually. In 2016, it was confirmed that the Port of Dalian would be part of the port sector consolidation undertaken by the Chinese government. Previously, the Dalian Container Terminal (DCT) controlled operations at seven container berths while the Dalian Port Container Terminal (DPCT) operated five container berths and the Dalian International Container Terminal operated two. In August 2017, all entities merged to form one operating entity under the DCT. All three of the previous entities had varying degrees of international investment including
Nippon Yusen (Japan), Singapore Dalian Port Investment and PSA China. In early 2017, it was reported that the Dalian Port and Yingkou Port Group would enter into a ‘corporation framework agreement’ to integrate port management in Liaoning province. The province would form a new company to run all ports with state-owned China Merchants Group to purchase a controlling stake. ==Geography==