The Ningbo Port, one of four international deep-water trans-shipment ports on the Chinese mainland, yesterday announced that its cargo turnover had reached a record of 220 million tons and container turnover had exceeded 4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) this year.

According to Li Linghong, president of the Ningbo Port Group Ltd, the port has poured over 5 billion yuan (US$600 million) into the construction of modern terminals since 2000, and it has gone through rapid growth.

Cargo turnover has been increasing at an annual growth rate of 18 per cent. In 2003, cargo turnover reached 185 million tons, a 21 per cent increase over the previous year. Container turnover in 2003 was 2.772 million TEUs, a 49 per cent increase over the year 2002.

The rapid growth has turned the port into one of the leading harbours both at home and abroad. Its cargo turnover has ranked second among the coastal ports of the Chinese mainland for four successive four years.

(China Daily December 29, 2004)