Swissport International is to manage and jointly operate the new Digital & Intelligent International Cargo Terminal at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in partnership with Smargo, a joint venture between AVINEX Logistics and China Eastern Airlines Logistics. The agreement, signed on 21 October marks the handler’s first entry into the Chinese market.
The new facility, located in the West Cargo Area of Pudong Airport, covers 222,000sq m meters and represents a total investment of 1.56 billion yuan (approximately US$ 215 million) and is designed to handle between 600,000 and 1.2 million tons of international cargo annually when it becomes operational in late 2025.
The terminal features an AI-driven warehouse management system with 99.5% scheduling accuracy – 60% higher than conventional operations. Its fully automated processes, including 94 autonomous vehicles and specialized AGVs, eliminate manual handling and cut dwell times. It also includes 15,000sq m of temperature-controlled space—including a 200 sqm ultra-deep freeze chamber.
