Zhangjiagang port beats cargo volume target

ZHANGJIAGANG, a port city in Jiangsu province, has beaten its full-year cargo volume target following a surge in throughput in the first 11 months of this year, according to Zhangjiagang municipal government, writes Hui Ching-hoo. The port had aimed to handle 135m tonnes of cargo this year, but total throughput rose to 136m tonnes between January-November, up 20.2% year on year.

Of the total, there was a 31.2% rise in international cargo to 35.9m tonnes and an 8.3% increase on box throughput to 786,000 teu.

The municipal government attributed the increase to a series of expansionist measures that included dredging new fairways in the eastern part of the port and the installation of new anchorages to meet the increase in the number of foreign trade vessels calling there. Customs also speeded up cargo examination procedures and improved the reporting mechanism for dangerous goods in the port.

At the same time, Jiangsu provincial government also eased berthing restrictions on foreign-flagged ships at Hong Tai Tong Yong, one of the major port operators in Zhangjiagang, on September 26.

Zhangjiagang Port Group has also invested Yuan800m ($117.6m) in building 16 berths at Zhangjiagang.