Taiwan recorded 5.4 percent growth in container throughput at its international commercial ports in 2011, a higher growth rate than that posted in the competing economies of Singapore and Hong Kong, CNA reports. The volume of containers handled by Taiwanese ports rose to a four-year high of 13.42 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
Both import volume of 4.17 million TEUs and export volume of 4.20 million TEUs set records. The number of containers that transited through local parts totaled 5.05 million TEUs.
Containerized cargo handled at Singapore ports rose 5.3 percent in 2011 to 29.9 million TEUs and that handled at Hong Kong ports increased 3 percent to 24.37 million TEUs, the ministry added.
Among Taiwan's seven international commercial ports, Kaohsiung posted a three-year high with 9.64 million TEUs thanks to its new International Terminal Container Center that opened in January 2011, the ministry said.
Taichung's 1.38 million TEUs and Taipei's 650,000 TEUs both were historical highs, with the volume in Taipei rising 50.6 percent from the previous year.
But Keelung, the main commercial port in northern Taiwan, reported a 0.8 percent decline in container throughput to 1.75 million TEUs.
Taiwan also saw goods shipped directly to and from China rise 2.5 percent to 1.96 million TEUs, accounting for 14.6 percent of the total volume, the data showed.
Taichung had the largest market share -- 26.8 percent -- of cargo shipped directly across the Taiwan Strait, and Keelung followed with 23 percent, the ministry said.
The main throughput of Keelung and Taichung consisted of imports and exports, while 50 percent of the containers handled in Kaohsiung were shipments in transit because of the southern Taiwanese port's favorable location and its extensive network of routes and connections, the ministry noted.
Both import volume of 4.17 million TEUs and export volume of 4.20 million TEUs set records. The number of containers that transited through local parts totaled 5.05 million TEUs.
Containerized cargo handled at Singapore ports rose 5.3 percent in 2011 to 29.9 million TEUs and that handled at Hong Kong ports increased 3 percent to 24.37 million TEUs, the ministry added.
Among Taiwan's seven international commercial ports, Kaohsiung posted a three-year high with 9.64 million TEUs thanks to its new International Terminal Container Center that opened in January 2011, the ministry said.
Taichung's 1.38 million TEUs and Taipei's 650,000 TEUs both were historical highs, with the volume in Taipei rising 50.6 percent from the previous year.
But Keelung, the main commercial port in northern Taiwan, reported a 0.8 percent decline in container throughput to 1.75 million TEUs.
Taiwan also saw goods shipped directly to and from China rise 2.5 percent to 1.96 million TEUs, accounting for 14.6 percent of the total volume, the data showed.
Taichung had the largest market share -- 26.8 percent -- of cargo shipped directly across the Taiwan Strait, and Keelung followed with 23 percent, the ministry said.
The main throughput of Keelung and Taichung consisted of imports and exports, while 50 percent of the containers handled in Kaohsiung were shipments in transit because of the southern Taiwanese port's favorable location and its extensive network of routes and connections, the ministry noted.