China's Cargo Throughput Likely to Fall 1.9pc in April

by yoel Mon May 11 2009, 22:31

May 11 2009

China's cargo throughput likely to fall 1.9pc in April

CARGO
throughput at main ports across China was estimated to reach 500
million tons in April, down 1.9 per cent from a year earlier, according
to a calculation by the Ministry of Transport (MOT), reported Xinhua.

Estimated
sea borne container throughput at main ports in China was set at 9.2
million TEU, a 13.4 per cent drop from a year earlier. April's daily
throughput was expected to be 3.2 per cent higher than March, said the
report. Cargo throughput for domestic trade will likely stand at 340
million tons in April, up 0.1 per cent compared with the same period
last year, the first year-on-year growth in 2009, said the MOT. The
ministry attributed the growth to government measures to spur domestic
demand since late 2008, such as the CNY4 trillion (US$586 billion)
stimulus package and support plans for key industries. However, cargo
throughput for foreign trade would fall nearly six per cent
year-on-year in April to 160 million tons due to a shrinking
international market, the MOT said. MOT measures business at sea ports
with annual cargo throughput at no fewer than 15 million tonnes in 2002
as well as inland ports with annual cargo throughput above 10 million
tonnes in 2002 and release the results on a monthly base.

Source : shednet