|
Shanghai now the world's largest cargo port
(Asia Pusle)
Updated: 2006-01-09 13:35
Shanghai port has become the world's largest cargo port, with processed cargo
topping 443 million tons in 2005, higher than that of Singapore's port,
according to the latest statistics of the Shanghai Port Management Department.
The rapid development of the Chinese economy and the large industrial and
trade base of the Yangtze River Delta region are the main reasons underlining
Shanghai's achievement. It only took Shanghai port five years to double cargo
handling capacity from 200 million tons to 400 million tons.
However, there is still a big gap between Shanghai and Singapore in container
handling capacity. The latest statistics show that Shanghai handled 18.09
million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers in 2005, rising 24.2%
over the previous year and taking the third position in the world. In contrast,
Singapore handled 21.2 million TEUs in the first 11 months of 2005, rising 8.4%.
In terms of growth rate, the container handling capacity of Shanghai grew much
faster than that of Singapore.
The economic development of Shanghai, the Yangtze River delta and Yangtze
River valley has also fueled the development of Shanghai port. At present,
Shanghai has opened shipping lines around the globe, extending to Europe,
America, Australia, Japan and Southeast Asia. The number of voyages mounted from
the port amounts to 1,967 monthly, including 942 to international ports.
|
