Guangzhou-Jiangmen rail routes on Shenzhen-Maoming Railway get nod

PostTime:2013-03-22 08:49:43 View:1180

THE 129.5-kilometre Jiangmen section of Shenzhen-Maoming Railway in western coastal regions of Guangdong through two districts and three cities including Jianghai, Xinhui, Taishan, Kaiping and Enping have won approval, according to an officer from Guangdong Jiangmen Development and Reform Bureau, reports Xinhua.  The approval also was given to a plan to set up five stations of southern Jiangmen, Shuangshui, Taishan, Kaiping and Enping, at a cost of CNY15.2 billion (US$2.45 billion), said the report.  The Shenzhen-Maoming Railway is expected to start construction at the end of the year with a full length of 387 kilometres and a collective investment of about CNY59.3 billion. According to the plan, its designed speed is 200 kilometres per hour and construction is to be completed by 2017.  The Shenzhen-Jiangmen section will be a passenger dedicated line while Jiangmen-Maoming section will focus on passenger transport along with fast freight and regular express trains.  The Shenzhen-Maoming Railway is an important part of the coastal railway of Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Maoming, Zhanjiang line and a main route linking Pearl River Delta and the western regions of Guangdong, Beibu Gulf area of Guangxi and Hainan province.  Once completed, the travel time from Jiangmen to Maoming will be reduced to two hours from four hours and only one hour from Jiangmen to Shenzhen. 

Shenzhen Yantian Port Holdings net profit down 3.8pc to US$66 million

PostTime:2013-03-22 08:41:58 View:768

SHENZHEN Yantian Port Holdings posted a net profit of 3.8 per cent year on year to CNY16.3 million (US$2.6 million) in 2012, drawn on revenues of CNY22.29, down 12.2 per cent.  It's subsidiary, Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT), handled 2.89 million TEU last year, down 0.34 per cent. Its revenue grew 1.28 per cent to CNY1.44 billion last year, reports Securities Times with net profit rising 7.5 per cent to CNY738 million.  Shenzhen Yantian West Port Terminals handled 426,700 TEU, up 7.13 per cent. Its revenue increased 8.95 per cent to CNY212 million. It's net profit fell 1.85 per cent to CNY109 million.  Commenting on the outlook, Yantian Port Holdings said the pressure in 2013 will continued to increase with slow recovery in US and Europe and rising labour and raw material cost in China.  Meanwhile, port overcapacity is looming at the Pearl River Delta and might become more serious. Besides, rising cost, tightening environmental protection measures and shrinking exports will have impact on the future growth of the port. In addition, expanding western rival terminals of Shenzhen also pose a threat to Yantian. 

Shenzhen Dec box volumes down 2%

PostTime:2013-01-18 08:35:34 View:550

Shenzhen Port saw container volumes fall 2% in December to 1.89m teu, with a full-year throughput rising a modest 1.6% to 22.94m teu.Annual throughput at the port's Chiwan container terminal dropped by 4.3% to 3.95m teu due to the decline in its exports to Europe.  

Wan Hai-Yang Ming intra-Asia THI loop calls at Shenzhen's loop Shekou

PostTime:2013-01-03 08:35:43 View:947

THE joint intra-Asia service operated by Wan Hai and Yang Ming, calling at Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia, has added Shekou Container Terminal (SCT) to its ports of call. Three vessels in the 1,500- to 2,000-TEU range have been deployed on routes which calls at SCT every Monday. Port rotation is Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shekou, Surabaya, Jakarta and back to Kaohsiung. This is the upgrade of the previous Taiwan-Indonesia service TIS. Hong Kong, Shekou and Surabaya are the newly added ports of call.

Shenzhen eases clearance inspections to make port more competitive

PostTime:2012-12-14 09:01:00 View:658

SHENZHEN Entry-Exit Inspection and the Quarantine Bureau have reduced requirements and cut the number of inspections so shippers enjoy faster cargo clearances, thus making the port more competitive, Xinhua reports. Requirements have now been lowered based on an annual export value between US$1 million to US$5 million, benefiting more than 1,400 companies in Shenzhen as they are qualified to join the fast-track scheme. In November, there were 96 eligible shippers in Shenzhen. From January to November, 79,467 batches of cargo were exported free from inspection and quarantine procedures. The policy change follows instructions from China State Council to remove impediments to trade especially for well-known, high-volume and high-value shippers.

Shenzhen volume increases 3pc to 19.21 million TEU in first 10 months

PostTime:2012-11-30 08:45:10 View:579

THE Port of Shenzhen has posted a 2.9 per cent year-on-year increase in container volume to 19.21 million TEU in the first 10 months of 2012, together with a 2.1 per cent rise in overall cargo to 190 million tonnes, ranking it eighth among China's busiest ports, according to the Shenzhen Transport Commission. Thanks to the satisfactory performance since August, Shenzhen managed to shake off the title of "the slowest growing port" among the top 10 container ports in China, said Xinhua. Shenzhen is now offering 240 international shipping services, 40 feeder lines and 15 sea-rail intermodal services. The number of its sister ports has increased to 11. In August, Shenzhen's box volume climbed 3.3 per cent year on year to a monthly high of 2.23 million TEU. In September, the port handled 2.15 million TEU, up 11.6 per cent. The Shenzhen Transport Commission noted that the recent surge in Shenzhen throughput was led by the conventional peak season when exports rise suddenly. Besides, the increasing international transhipments and the repositioning of empties also boosted box throughput.

Shenzhen to overhaul Hong Kong this year

PostTime:2012-11-22 08:36:20 View:738

Hong Kong, until 2005 the busiest boxport in the world, is likely to relinquish third spot to Shenzhen this year based on numbers just out from Alphaliner. Also of note is the rapid rise of Yingkou, which on the basis of the first nine months of this year, has crept into the top 25, SinoShipNews reports. The world's 25 largest ports handled a total of 238m teuin the first nine months of the year, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 4.5%, nearly half the growth rate of 8.7 per cent achieved in the same period in 2011. Hong Kong volumes dropped 3.9% in the first nine months, making it the worst performer in the list, while nearby Shenzhen has seen growth of 3.1%. Shanghai is still beating Singapore for top spot – by some half a million boxes in the first three quarters – 24.2m teu versus 23.7m. Chinese ports account for 11 of the top 25 ports with Dalian the strongest grower, clocking a whopping 26.2% growth to jump to number 17 in the rankings. The port of Yingkou joined the top 25 list for the first time, as it overtook the ports of Tokyo, Valencia, Nhava Sheva, Port Said and Colombo to jump from number 30 to 25 in the league table. Yingkou's container volumes reached 3.6m teu for a growth of 16.5% in the year-to-date to September.

Shenzhen threatens to take HK's No 3 spot as growth slows at big ports

PostTime:2012-11-21 08:27:32 View:581

THE world's 25 largest ports handled a total of 238 million TEU in the first nine months of the year, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 4.5 per cent, nearly half the growth rate of 8.7 per cent achieved in the same period in 2011. Hong Kong volumes declined 3.9 per cent in the first nine months, making it the worst performer among the main ports this year and now stands to lose its third place ranking to Shenzhen by the end of the year. Shenzhen's container volumes have exceeded Hong Kong for the last five months and its year to date growth of 3.1 per cent is ahead of the 0.3 per cent growth recorded in 2011. Based on volume data collected by Alphaliner, Shanghai retained the top spot with total container volumes handled at 24.2 million TEU, up 1.9 per cent compared to the same January - September period last year. Singapore, which remained in second place, has narrowed the gap with Shanghai as its volumes grew at a faster pace of 6.8 per cent to 23.7 million TEU though it is not expected to regain its number one spot this year. Strong south east Asia volumes helped Singapore mount a strong challenge to Shanghai this year, led by Jakarta which saw its container throughput jump by 13.9 per cent to hit 5.6 million TEU in the first nine months in 2012. Chinese ports continue to dominate the port throughput rankings, with 11 of the top 25 ports located in China (including Hong Kong). The northern China port of Dalian reported the largest volume gain so far this year at 26.2 per cent and has overtaken the port of Tanjung Pelepas and Xiamen to reach number 17 among the world's major ports with 5.8 million TEU handled in the nine-month period. The port of Yingkou joined the top 25 list for the first time, as it overtook the ports of Tokyo, Valencia, Nhava Sheva, Port Said and Colombo to jump from number 30 to 25 in the league table. Yingkou's container volumes reached 3.6 million TEU for a growth of 16.5 per cent in the year-to-date to September. European ports suffered the largest volume falls with its top three ports - Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp - all recording volume declines due to the weak performance of the European economy. Only Bremerhaven was able to post volume gains, with the German port handling 4.7 million TEU this year. The top five ports are: Shanghai 24.2 million TEU (up 1.9 per cent); Singapore 23.8 million TEU (up 6.8 per cent); Hong Kong 17.5 million TEU (down 3.9 per cent); Shenzhen 17.3 million TEU (up 3.1 per cent) and Busan 12.8 million TEU (up 6.3 per cent).

Ningbo ascends TEU ladder, poised to unseat Shenzhen as No 2 box port

PostTime:2012-11-20 08:34:46 View:775

NINGBO is poised to unseat Shenzhen as the mainland's second-busiest container port and the world's fourth-busiest, says Willy Lin Sun-mo, chairman of the Hong Kong Shippers' Council. "Ningbo will become one of the major international ports. In fact, it is an international port now," Mr Lin told the Hong Kong's South China Morning Post. In the first nine months this year, Ningbo volume increased 9.9 per cent to 12.3 million TEU while Shenzhen's rose 2.9 per cent to 17.3 million TEU. Meanwhile, Shanghai increased 1.9 per cent to 24.2 million TEU, according to official data. Ningbo's container throughput grew more than eightfold to 14.5 million TEU since 2002, said Ningbo Port president Li Linghong. Ningbo is closer to factories in the Yangtze River Delta than Shanghai, just as Shenzhen is closer to factories in the Pearl River Delta than Hong Kong, Mr Lin said. In container throughput, Ningbo's global ranking climbed to sixth last year from 30th in 2002, he said. "The past 10 years was the period of Ningbo port's most rapid growth." Among the world's 30 largest ports, Ningbo has seen the fastest growth over this 10-year period, said Mr Li. From the funds raised from its IPO in Shanghai in September 2010, Ningbo Port, the city's port operator, will invest CNY10.95 billion (US$2.1 billion) in four terminals from 2010 to 2014, according to the company. One container terminal in Beilun district will receive CNY5.59 billion from 2010 to 2014 and the container terminal of Jintang district will receive CNY1.26 billion from 2010 to 2013. The Beilun and Jintang container terminals will add five million TEU annual container capacity, said the report. The two other terminals to benefit are another container terminal as well as a coal dock. In the past three quarters, CYN12.76 billion was invested in Ningbo port, accounting for 80 per cent of the planned investment for the entire year, according to the Zhoushan government website. Ningbo port includes the port of Zhoushan city, which is next to the original Ningbo harbour. Recently, the bonded zone of Zhoushan port gained 10 investment contracts totalling CNY13 billion, according to the website of the Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission. Said Northeast Securities analyst Xiang Xu: "There is a possibility Ningbo may overtake Shenzhen because it has been enjoying fast growth. The question is whether it can sustain its growth. The gap between Ningbo and Shenzhen is still large."

Shenzhen hits transport sector with new national VAT from November

PostTime:2012-10-29 08:19:16 View:825

SHENZHEN is to start a pilot scheme of the new national value added tax in the transport and service industry sectors on November 1, Xinhua reports. Meeting concerns about higher taxes among logistics operators, the Shenzhen government will introduce supporting measures during the break-in period. Shanghai has already started its trial run. Statistics show that tax burden of 90 per cent of the companies who take part in the scheme have been mitigated. There will be 60,000 companies participating in the scheme in Shenzhen. It is predicted that about CNY3 billion (US$479.5 million) to CNY5 billion tax will be reduced for these companies. But the new tax scheme will have the reverse effect, said the logistics sector. If subsidies are not provided, then tens of thousands of the small and medium logistics companies will face hardship, even bankruptcy, according to the Shenzhen Logistics Association secretary Zheng Yanling.

China sets up Shenzhen-like economic zone on North Korean/Russian border

PostTime:2012-09-13 08:24:28 View:734

CHINA has built an international "cooperation demonstration zone" - a Shenzhen-like jurisdiction under different rules - in Hunchun, Jilin province, 150 miles west of Vladivostok, with the aim of fostering cross border cooperation with North Korea and Russia, reports Xinhua. The zone will cover 90 square kilometres and enjoy national preferential policies ranging from taxes and land use to financial support and talent pooling, according to the press conference held by Jilin provincial government. Hunchun, with a population of 250,000, resumed and re-opened Sino-Russian Hunchun-Kamyshovaya railway operations and facilities in June, after its suspension in 2000. A 488-kilometre high-speed railway from Changchun to Hunchun has also been built and neighbouring airports have been expanded. "The zone symbolises the new stage of development of the Tumen River Area by China, Russia, North Korea, South Korea and Mongolia," said Shen Xujian, deputy regional development director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Li Longxi, mayor of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, where Hunchun is located, said local authorities will ease visa procedures to attract more tourists to visit North Korea and Russia via Yanbian. The completion of the zone will not only facilitate logistics between the northeast and other parts of China through sea freight, will also accelerate the development of other projects such as Russia's gas pipeline to South Korea, says Lv Chao, a researcher from the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences. In 1990, the UN's Development Programme sought to raise US$30 billion within 20 years and develop the region along the Tumen River into a world-class transport, trade and financial hub. But the region's weak economy discouraged investment from Japan and South Korea, not to mention the rising political tension that dampened investors' interest. While some residents welcomed the set up of the zone, Hunchun's success as an engine for economic growth depends on the genuine cooperation and peaceful solutions to conflicts between neighbouring countries, Mr Lv said.

Famous Pacific Shipping in Shenzhen relocates to 30pc larger premises

PostTime:2012-09-12 08:28:12 View:650

FAMOUS Pacific Shipping (FPS) in Shenzhen, China has relocated to a larger premises in the centre of the city in Guangdong province, to meet growing demands for multi-modal freight forwarding services. First established in 2002 and currently employing 50 staff, FPS Shenzhen is now based in the city's Luo Ho district, immediately above its subway station, and closer to the China/Hong Kong border. The new offices are 30 per cent larger, and will accommodate 70 staff. General manager Thomas Chan, who reports to FPS Hong Kong director Edmond Tong, heads it up. "Shenzhen is becoming increasingly important within our overall network across China, and the new, larger offices will enable us to grow our staff strength to keep pace with our increasing traffic levels," he said. FPS Shenzhen is one of five offices operated by the Hong Kong-based company, and accounts for a quarter of its total business.