China container volume up to 12.44 million TEU in May
Chinese container ports reported record volume of box liftings in May on the back of an improvement in the value of Chinese exports and imports. Chinese ports handled 12.44 million TEU in May, up 21.9% month-on-month and 16.6% from the corresponding period a year ago, according to a report by Alphaliner.
"The strong performance came on the back of a 48% increase in the value of Chinese exports and imports for May 2010. The rise exceeded analysts' forecasts by a significant margin," the report said.
The highest growth in throughput was seen in Ningbo port, situated on the Yangtze river in China's eastern Zhejiang province, which recorded a 52% increase to 1.23 million TEU in May.
Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Xiamen and Dalian also posted monthly record container throughput in May.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce, meanwhile, have warned that the growth in box liftings may be impeded by the crisis in Europe in the coming months.
"The Euro zone crisis will take its toll on Chinese exports to Europe in the coming months as it typically takes Chinese companies about two months to fulfill orders," said Alphaliner.
"May's shipments reflected orders booked before Europe's debt crisis deepened. While June figures are likely to remain strong, export growth is expected to slow from July onwards."
The report estimates global container volume demand growth at 11.5% in 2010, with slower second-half growth offsetting the strong first-half trade growth figures.
"The strong performance came on the back of a 48% increase in the value of Chinese exports and imports for May 2010. The rise exceeded analysts' forecasts by a significant margin," the report said.
The highest growth in throughput was seen in Ningbo port, situated on the Yangtze river in China's eastern Zhejiang province, which recorded a 52% increase to 1.23 million TEU in May.
Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Xiamen and Dalian also posted monthly record container throughput in May.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce, meanwhile, have warned that the growth in box liftings may be impeded by the crisis in Europe in the coming months.
"The Euro zone crisis will take its toll on Chinese exports to Europe in the coming months as it typically takes Chinese companies about two months to fulfill orders," said Alphaliner.
"May's shipments reflected orders booked before Europe's debt crisis deepened. While June figures are likely to remain strong, export growth is expected to slow from July onwards."
The report estimates global container volume demand growth at 11.5% in 2010, with slower second-half growth offsetting the strong first-half trade growth figures.