PORT OF SHANGHAI , CHINA The size of 470 football pitches , Shanghai port is said to have enabled China to become the world ’ s largest trading nation . Shanghai ’ s annual import and export trade makes up a quarter of China ’ s foreign trade in value . The port handled over 36.54mn TEUs in 2015 . Opened as a treaty port in 1842 , since 2003 the port has been managed by Shanghai International Port , which is a majority state-owned firm .