[180815.ID.BIZ] China Top 30 Ports Post 6.1pc Gain in First Half to 102.7 Million TEU

CHINA's top 30 ports handled 5.67 billion tonnes of cargo in the first half of 2015, up 2.6 per cent year on year, a slow down from last year's 5.6 per cent increase, according to Ministry of Transport data.

First half container throughput volume was up 6.1 per cent at 102.7 million TEU with 92.1 million TEU from coastal ports and 10.6 million TEU from river ports.

As a result of the slower growth of emerging economies, unbalanced recovery of developed economies, as well as the ongoing escalated regional conflicts, container throughput may see a small drop in the second half of this year, says the Shanghai Shipping Exchange.

Nineteen coastal ports handled 3.94 billion tonnes of cargo, rising 1.6 per cent with the other 1.73 billion tonnes lifted by river ports, where volumes grew five per cent, reported IHS Maritime News.

In the first quarter of 2015, the cargo throughput increased by 2.2 per cent over the previous year, representing the slowest growth since 2009.

Iron ore imports were down 0.9 per cent at 453 million tonnes while incoming coal was 99.9 million tonnes a fall of 38 per cent from the year before. But crude oil was up 7.5 per cent at 163.4 million tonnes.

The SSE attributed slower growth to weak export, adjustments of China's domestic economy, as well as slower investment increase from January to June this year.

Source : HKSG.