Ningbo-Zhoushan Port maintains stable growth in first four months

YM WISH, a Hong Kong container vessel, discharges cargo at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the world's largest port for cargo turnover, recorded stable growth in the first four months of the year, according to the latest statistics released by the Ministry of Transport. 

Cargo throughput hit 34.806 million metric tons during the period, up 1.2 percent year on year. Container throughput saw a year-on-year increase of 3.3 percent, at 8.94 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), accounting for one tenth of the nation's total.

As of April 30, the port boasts 246 container shipping routes, including 113 ocean-going lines. 

Rail-sea intermodal transport became a new engine driving the growth of container throughput, with 243,000 TEUs handled from January to April, up 49.5 percent year on year. Four new routes entered operation, making a total of 14 routes.

Yellow sand, oil and automobile ro-ro businesses showed sound growth momentum. The port handled 88,000 cars in ro-ro ships in the first four months, a year-on-year increase of 206.84 percent. 

Iron ore turnover showed a slight decline due to accidents such as a dam break in Brazil and a hurricane in Australia.