Dock workers move cargo at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province. Wang Jianmin / Xinhua

Chinese ports managed stable expansion in 2013, boosted by strong domestic investment and surging international demand for coal, iron ore and other commodities, according to the 2013 Global Port Development Report by Shanghai International Shipping Institute.

Thanks to China's surging volume of domestic water transportation in the first half of 2013 and a rebound of China's trade performance in the second half, the total annual cargo throughput of large Chinese ports totaled 10.7 billion metric tons last year, up 9.7 percent from the previous year.

Asian ports such as Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Busan accounted for 17 of the world's largest 20 ports last year, mainly boosted by the fast infrastructure development of Chinese ports and declining trade volume of both US and European ports.

Supported by China's rising demand for foreign coal and iron ore from the global market, the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port became the world's largest port for handling cargo throughput in 2013, rising 8.8 percent from a year earlier.

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