Ningbo Port Group president Li Linghong was quoted by the website of the Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV as saying the group was still awaiting government approval but did not elaborate.
Ningbo Port's throughput volume is expected to remain flat or increase slightly this year thanks to the country's economic stimulus package, Li said at the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress.
The port's throughput volume hit 10.84 million teu last year, up 16 percent from 2007. It is the second biggest port in the Chinese mainland and the fourth largest in the world.