Cargo turnover rose 17.7 pct year-on-year to 1.22 bln tons in the first quarter, with combined shipments for exports and imports up 17.8 pct at 420 mln tons.
In the first three months, iron ore imports via the major ports increased five pct to 92 mln tons, with March imports falling compared to a year earlier due to the impact of an Australian hurricane and India's iron ore price hike.
Oil imports handled by the ports were up 9.1 pct year-on-year at 35.92 mln tons in the first quarter, the ministry said.
China has more than 40 major ports with annual throughput capacity of over 5 mln tons.