Container volume at China’s top eight container ports increased 20.5% year-on-year in late January, according to statistics released by China Ports and Harbors Association. 

Among the ports Tianjin, Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Xiamen, Guangzhou and Shenzhen all posted a growth rate of over 20%. The high growth rate year-on-year in part reflects a sharp slump in late January 2020 with both the Lunar New Year holidays and the onset of lockdowns in China for the coronavirus.

Export container volume increased 19.8% while the domestic container volume increased 23.4% year-on-year.

Cargo throughput at major coastal Chinese ports increased 12.2% year-on-year while the international trade cargo volume increased 7.2%.

Crude oil shipments at major coastal ports increased 18.6% year-on-year, among which the port of Tianjin and Yantai posted a substantial growth rate of over 100%.

Metal ore shipments at major Chinese ports increased 5.8% year-on-year, among which the port of Tianjin posted over 20% growth rate. The port inventory declined 9.4%.

In late January, cargo throughput at three major Yangtze river ports, Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing, increased 40.1%, among which the port of Chongqing posted a growth rate of over 100%. The container volume at the three ports increased 17.4% and the port of Chongqing also achieved over 80% growth rate.

For the whole month of January, container volume at eight major Chinese ports increased 9.6% year-on-year, and the cargo throughput from major coastal ports increased 4.6%. The bulk cargo, as well as the oil and ore products’ handling volume all posted positive growth in the period.