The LOGINK, a Chinese state-owned platform created to connect data from ports, customs and transport companies, has lost a significant part of its international presence after projects with Asian countries and European ports stalled. The contraction comes amid pressure from the United States and financial and legal problems in China, according to reporting by Reuters.
The shift contrasts with the expansion promoted by Beijing for more than a decade. In 2023, a report later published by the U.S. government estimated that LOGINK's coverage was equivalent to approximately 40% of global container traffic, considering the volume handled at the ports reached by the system.
The platform's main international project, which connected the logistics systems of China, Japan and South Korea, practically stopped. Beijing canceled a meeting scheduled for March 2024 and the three countries have not met again since.
Japan has also stopped receiving data from LOGINK. An official from Japan's Ministry of Transport said that access had been interrupted for more than a year and that the government was unable to contact its Chinese counterparts.
Projects in Europe also stalled
In Europe, a 2017 agreement with the Portuguese port of Sines did not produce significant progress. Another memorandum, signed in 2019 with Portbase, linked to the port of Rotterdam, remained in the exploratory phase.
LOGINK also left the International Port Community Systems Association in 2024 after halting payment of its dues. The international data-sharing project in which it participated is currently inactive.
In the United States, the platform came to be treated as an economic and security risk. U.S. officials warned that the system could give the Chinese government access to information on routes, cargo and trade flows. Washington later restricted its use in government-funded contracts and infrastructure.
Chinese operation faces lawsuits
The problems also reached the domestic operation. The commercial entity linked to LOGINK's center in Wenzhou has faced, since January 2024, at least 39 lawsuits, totaling about US$ 1.3 million, including labor disputes and unpaid bills.
In September, the Wenzhou office was found apparently inactive, while the platform's website has been offline since approximately 2024.
Reuters was unable to determine the direct cause of the international contraction. Despite this, LOGINK remains present in Beijing's domestic plans. In June, the Ministry of Transport published guidelines advocating greater integration of the platform with internal data flows, indicating that the Chinese government still intends to preserve its role in the national logistics infrastructure.
