China's ports are expected to handle nearly 50 million twenty-foot equivalent units of containers this year, with Shanghai and Shenzhen contributing the most volume, a senior Chinese official from the Ministry of Communications said.

Su Xingang, who is in charge of the water transportation sector, disclosed that between 47 million and 48 million TEUs will be handled by the country's ports by the end of the year, an increase of 37 percent from a year earlier.

"Among national ports, Shanghai and Shenzhen contribute the most volume," said Su at a meeting held yesterday to promote the implementation of China's first port law.

Total freight throughput by shipping will reach about 2 billion tons including the TEUs, a 17 percent rise compared with last year. Foreign trade-related cargo will account for nearly half of the total freight.

Meanwhile, as the freight volume continues to rise rapidly due to China's booming economy, the country will put its first law on port operations into effect from the beginning of next year.

The law will be important for China's ports which are lacking strict rules and regulations, officials said.

In addition to the law, China is also improving its port infrastructure to match the expected rise in freight volume over the next few years.

(Shanghai Daily December 2, 2003)