The Port of Fangcheng, the largest harbour in southwest China's Guangxi Autonomous Region, handled 123,000 TEU during the first half of this year, a surge of 33.8 per cent over the same period a year ago, more than doubling the national average growth of 15.9 per cent, Xinhua reported.
The 123,000 TEU is only a fraction of the volume of eastern China ports but the fast growth reflects the economic transformation in the region where bulk cargo used to dominate, said the report.
As more export processing enterprises are moving westwards from the east, the type of cargo source from southwest China has turned from raw materials to processed products, and therefore become more suitable for being loaded into containers.
The half-year results for Beihai Port box throughput, another port in the region, has nearly caught up with its annual volume last year. The number of containerships moving between the port and Hong Kong, Shenzhen has grown to a historical high of 12 per day.
Fangcheng Port Group general manager Xie Yi said more export processing companies are moving to the hinterland; a favourable geographical location in the region because it is the most convenient gateway for ocean shipping in the southwest and is attracting more container cargo.
Mr Xie pointed out that the surging oil price has also been another reason for the rapid growth since the fuel price hike has induced the local shippers to move cargo via the nearby and cheaper ports instead of Shenzhen or Guangzhou.
"World shipping industry is deploying ever more larger ships," said Mr Xie. "Small containership today are 4,250-TEU while the biggest have grown to 14,000 TEU. Therefore, the Beibu Gulf ports are busy expanding infrastructure to accommodate mega ships."
Fangcheng refitted its No 9 bulk cargo berth as a container dock in April, which has brought a capacity of 300,000 TEU. Another four 150,000-tonne and one 70,000-tonne capacity berths are under construction. The port is also expanding its access channel capacity from 200,000 tonnes to 300,000 tonnes.
Mr Xie divulged that the Beibu Gulf ports are building a number of new container terminals. Port of Fangcheng is aiming to meet an annual container throughput target of 250,000 TEU by the end of this year and 1 million by 2010. By 2015, the port's overall cargo tonnage will surpass 100 million tonnes, while its container volume will reach 3 million TEU.
The 123,000 TEU is only a fraction of the volume of eastern China ports but the fast growth reflects the economic transformation in the region where bulk cargo used to dominate, said the report.
As more export processing enterprises are moving westwards from the east, the type of cargo source from southwest China has turned from raw materials to processed products, and therefore become more suitable for being loaded into containers.
The half-year results for Beihai Port box throughput, another port in the region, has nearly caught up with its annual volume last year. The number of containerships moving between the port and Hong Kong, Shenzhen has grown to a historical high of 12 per day.
Fangcheng Port Group general manager Xie Yi said more export processing companies are moving to the hinterland; a favourable geographical location in the region because it is the most convenient gateway for ocean shipping in the southwest and is attracting more container cargo.
Mr Xie pointed out that the surging oil price has also been another reason for the rapid growth since the fuel price hike has induced the local shippers to move cargo via the nearby and cheaper ports instead of Shenzhen or Guangzhou.
"World shipping industry is deploying ever more larger ships," said Mr Xie. "Small containership today are 4,250-TEU while the biggest have grown to 14,000 TEU. Therefore, the Beibu Gulf ports are busy expanding infrastructure to accommodate mega ships."
Fangcheng refitted its No 9 bulk cargo berth as a container dock in April, which has brought a capacity of 300,000 TEU. Another four 150,000-tonne and one 70,000-tonne capacity berths are under construction. The port is also expanding its access channel capacity from 200,000 tonnes to 300,000 tonnes.
Mr Xie divulged that the Beibu Gulf ports are building a number of new container terminals. Port of Fangcheng is aiming to meet an annual container throughput target of 250,000 TEU by the end of this year and 1 million by 2010. By 2015, the port's overall cargo tonnage will surpass 100 million tonnes, while its container volume will reach 3 million TEU.