Port is the “barometer” of national economic development. Entering into the fourth quarter, China's port cargo throughput increased significantly, and the growth of foreign trade container business in eight major hub ports accelerated.

According to the latest data obtained by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and China Ports & Harbours Association on October 23, the cargo throughput of China's major coastal hub ports increased by 5.4% year on year in mid-October, of which the foreign trade cargo throughput increased by 4.4% year on year; The throughput of the Yangtze River hub ports increased by 2.9% year on year.

Li Xiaopeng, Minister of MOT, said at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council on October 22 that during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, China's port investment and construction efforts increased, and the number of berths of 10000 tons and above in coastal ports has reached 2530. Since this year, due to the continuing impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, port transport production has been greatly impacted.

Statistics from MOT show that in September this year, the national port cargo throughput increased by 3% year-on-year, of which foreign trade cargo throughput increased by 4.2%. Container throughput in Hebei, Shandong and Zhejiang increased by 7.6%, 4.1% and 0.9% respectively, especially in Guangxi and Hainan, with container throughput increasing by 34.9% and 10.5% respectively.

According to the China Ports & Harbours Association, in mid-October, the container throughput of the eight major hub ports monitored by the Association increased by 8.4% year-on-year. In terms of ports, the growth rate of Shanghai Port and Ningbo Zhoushan Port is more than 10%, and that of Shenzhen Port is more than 20%. Under the background of sustained improvement in foreign trade import and export, foreign trade container business continued to grow rapidly, with throughput increased by 12.9% year on year. The foreign trade container business of Dalian Port, which was significantly affected by the epidemic in the early stage of this year, also recovered significantly.

Statistics released today by Hebei Transportation Department also show that in the third quarter, key port construction projects in Hebei Province seized the golden period of construction, especially the general wharf project in Caofeidian Port Area of Tangshan Port and the ore wharf phase I (continuation) project in Huanghua Port Bulk Port Area.

By the end of September, nine port construction projects in Hebei Province had been resumed, with a start-up rate of 75%, a new high in recent years. Port fixed assets investment completed 3.12 billion yuan, reaching 103.9% of the annual plan, exceeding the annual plan target ahead of schedule.

In September, Ningbo Zhoushan Port completed cargo throughput of 102,360,000 tons, an increase of 10% over the same period last year; Container throughput reached 2.73 million TEUs, up 13.8% year on year. The overall throughput of goods and containers increased generally. In addition, from January to September this year, the refueling volume of Zhoushan Port reached 3.269 million tons, up 17.7% from the same period in 2019, which is one of the few ports in the world to achieve positive year-on-year growth in marine oil consumption.

Liu Peng, deputy director of the Water Transport Bureau of MOT, introduced that in order to prepare for the overall recovery of port production, the MOT, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions are jointly organizing the National Vocational Skills Competition in the transportation industry in recent days to promote the improvement of service skills and professional level in the industry.