Big increase in Shanghai container movements

Shanghai, the busiest container port in China, moved 20% more containers last year. Meanwhile, the city’s plans to develop a new US$ 16 billion port are at an advanced stage.
Some 21.7 million 20-foot containers went through the port last year, according to a statement from Shanghai’€™s local authority, while total cargo handled increased by 21% to 537.4 million tonnes. In December, for example, Shanghai handled 1.92 million containers – a 23.2% increase compared with a year earlier.
A Bloomberg News survey suggests China’€™s trade surplus probably swelled 74% to a record US$ 177 billion last year. Exports to the USA and to other overseas markets have turned Shanghai into the world’€™s third-largest container port after Singapore and Hong Kong.
The proposed new port at Shanghai would double the city’€™s container capacity, according to the Shanghai International Port (Group) Co. The operator is in talks with overseas companies about investing in the new facility. With a depth of 16 metres, it will be large enough to accommodate the world’€™s largest container vessels