Shanghai throughput grows 10%

During the first six months, inward cargo volume climbed 8.3% year on year to 221.3m tonnes, while outward cargo volume rose 14% year on year to 131.88m tonnes, according to the Shanghai Statistics Bureau.

Box throughput volumes grew at a rate of 10.5% to 15.3m teu, with overall throughput increasing 10.3% to 353.2m tonnes, including 163.4m tonnes of foreign trade cargo volume.

While the port of Shanghai surpassed Singapore in cargo volume in 2010, there are signs that declining trade conditions are eroding Shanghai’s growth.

Figures for June released by Shanghai International Port Group say year-on-year volumes for the month increased by 7.8% to 2.62m teu.

In May 2011, throughput was considerably higher, at 2.76m teu.

The figures reflect the lower volumes that shipowners have reported this year, which have been instrumental in keeping rates low on the transpacific trades.