Xiamen ramps up efforts to improve port competitiveness

PostTime:2018-06-07 09:58:30 View:1158

{非本站图片} Xiamen is determined to improve Xiamen port's competitiveness. [Photo/{非本站网址}]   Xiamen port authority is launching a series of moves to improve Xiamen's port competitiveness. The moves come off following the news that Xiamen port handled more than 10 million customers in 2017 for the first time, ranking 14th in the world, according to Xiamen Customs. These moves are deemed necessary by local authorities to keep the port on an upward trajectory and to improve the port's competitiveness. Chargers for foreign trade at Xiamen port can be divided into governmental and non-governmental agencies and charges from the latter account for 90 percent of the whole charges, according to the local port authority. The charges from government at Xiamen port are the lowest among the main ports along the coastal area of the Chinese mainland. The Xiamen port agency, therefore, aims to reduce the charges from non-governmental agencies. A price list for charges from non-governmental agencies at Xiamen port was released recently to cut back on and combine charge items and lower the overall prices of regular charge items by 30 percent. It's estimated that around 30 million yuan ($4.71 million) would be saved by the move for the companies at Xiamen port. "Charge reduction is just one measure and the ultimate goal is to speed up customs clearance and logistics and improve its overall competitiveness," head of Xiamen port authority said. Constructing a "smart port" is the key to the development plans for the port. A smart logistics platform for containers was put into operation at Xiamen port two years ago. The platform has been successful in increasing the efficiency of the port, such as reducing each container car's pass time from 96 seconds to 26. Additionally, a credit management platform for the port's shipping and port companies has recently come into service and a regulation to award and punish companies that successfully or fail to keep their promises is under negotiation.   {非本站图片} Workers at Xiamen port monitor the port's regular operation via the smart logistics platform. [Photo/{非本站网址}]

Xiamen Port to buy stake in terminal storage business

PostTime:2017-09-06 08:34:00 View:1066

China’s Xiamen Port Development has entered into a deal to purchase 75% equity interest in Shishi City Huajin Terminal Storage and Transportation Co (Shishi Huajin) at a price of approximately RMB204.51m ($31.96m). Xiamen Port Development will acquire 60% equity interest of Shishi Huajin from majority owner Shishi City Well Able Group Co (Well Able) and another 15% from businessman Qiu Yitian. At present, Shishi Huajin’s equity interests are 75% held by Well Able and 25% by Qiu. “The board is of the view that the entering into of the acquisition agreement and the acquisition are crucial to the group’s implementation of its expansion strategy outside Xiamen port region,” stated Xiamen International Port Co, which owns 55.13% of Xiamen Port Development. “The acquisition enables the group to strengthen its investment in peripheral ports so as to further consolidate the core advantage and competitiveness of its port-related principal businesses,” it added. Established in 2007, Shishi Huajin is principally engaged in the investment, construction and terminal operation of the Jinshang operational area at Quanzhou Gulf port area. Shishi Huajin has already constructed three general terminals and has a berth under construction.

DHL eCommerce opens in Xiamen, expands in Hong Kong, Shenzhen

PostTime:2017-03-30 08:43:45 View:1162

GERMANY's DHL eCommerce, a division of Deutsche Post, has announced plans to open e-commerce logistics services in Xiamen to serve Fujian province. The company also announced the expansion of its Shenzhen and Hong Kong distribution centres to manage a capacity of 81 million shipments a year.  "China's booming cross-border e-commerce market, estimated to be worth US$839 billion by 2021, is expected to dominate 40 per cent of the global market share," said a company statement.  "The growth momentum in southern China is particularly strong - cross-border e-commerce transactions in Fujian grew 42 per cent to a total value of $28.1 billion, which accounted for 18.5 per cent of the provincial outbound trade in 2015.  "To enable merchants across South China to tap on the huge cross-border e-commerce opportunity and compete in the international market, DHL eCommerce will now provide greater convenience with pick-up service; easy IT integration of their inventory into the shipping process, as well as greater variety of simple and affordable cross-border shipping solutions to reach out to customers across the world," said DHL.  "With exports expected to make up 75 per cent of China's e-commerce turnover three years from now, a strong and reliable logistics framework has to be set in place to meet growing needs," it said.  Said DHL eCommerce China chief Zhi Zheng: "Manufacturing and export hubs like Fujian will be the centre stage of all future growth of e-commerce exports in China. DHL's expertise in international shipping and fulfilment, along with our global network and strong e-commerce expertise will play a fundamental role in connecting China's e-tailers with online markets across the world." 

Xiamen Port to build another two berths for $93m

PostTime:2017-03-28 09:00:09 View:1075

Xiamen Port Development has appointed a contractor to build two new berths at its Gulei Port Development project. The company said in a stock market announcement that through its Gulei Port Development unit, it has appointed CCCC Third Navigational Engineering Bureau to construct berths North No 1 and No 2 in the Gulei operation area for RMB637.5m ($92.9m). The job will consist of building two 50,000-tonne multi-purpose berths, a 5,000-tonne multi-purpose berth, four fire-fighting tug berths and other corresponding ancillary facilities. The berths will consist of a total quay length of 1,306m and take up a total land area of 423,600 sqm and make up part of the group’s promotion of the Gulei Port Development Project, Xiamen Port said. "The board is of the view that the entering into of the construction contract is crucial to the group’s proactive promotion of the Gulei Port Development Project. As part of the implementation of the group’s expansion strategy outside Xiamen Port Island region, the construction works enable the group to commence terminal and port logistics business in Gulei port area in order to provide relevant port-related ancillary services for the development of petrochemical industry in Gulei port and hence further enhance the core competitiveness of the group’s port-related principal business," Xiamen Port concluded.

Xiamen port profit down 13pc to US$46.3 million as revenues rise 56.8pc

PostTime:2015-03-24 08:15:50 View:1083

THE Port of Xiamen, opposite Taiwan, has posted a 12.9 per cent year-on-year profit increase to CNY286.7 million (US$46.3 million) in 2014, drawn on revenues of CNY7.5 billion, which increased of 56.8 per cent. In a Shenzhen stock exchange filing, Xiamen Port declared a 7.4 per cent increase in cargo handling to 205 million tonnes with container throughput coming to 8.57 million TEU, ranking it eighth among China ports. The port, serving the special status city in Fujian province formerly called Amoy, plans to build nine deepwater berths, a deepwater channel, as well as an anchorage, as it targets 10 million TEU in 2016. The port also plans to test a high-speed roll-on-roll-off (ro-ro) service to Taiwan, as well as ro-ro services from Zhangzhou and Dongshan to Taiwan, reports IHS Maritime 360. Today, the port operates 33 terminals, 23 berths for 10,000 tonnes and above, plus 163 services connecting 54 countries worldwide.    

Xiamen Shipbuilding bags first order for LNG carrier

PostTime:2015-01-26 08:15:33 View:1190

Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry has bagged its first order to build a LNG carrier of 45,000 cu m in capacity, with an option for one additional unit, for China’s Landmark Corporate Holdings, investment firm in shipping and offshore industries. The newbuilding is slated to be completed in 2017. The LNG carrier will be designed by Norway’s LNG New Technologies (LNT), incorporating its novel containment system LNT A-Box based on an IMO independent tank type A, equipped with a full secondary barrier. In January 2014, Xiamen Shipbuilding successfully completed a mock-up testing of the LNT A-Box, witnessed by class surveyors ABS, BV and DNV GL.

Chinese sand carrier sinks after colliding with German boxship off Xiamen

PostTime:2014-11-14 08:04:09 View:1123

SIX crewmen of a sinking Chinese bulk carrier with a cargo of sand, were rescued after a collision with a German-owned Liberian-flagged containership off Xiamen, reports Denver-based IHS Maritime 360. Five men were rescued by a passing vessel, with the one other pulled from water by the rescuers of Donghai Rescue Bureau. The Chinese cargo ship Hai Run 607 with six crew aboard collided with 1,740-TEU Hansa Siegburg southeast of Qingyu Island off Xiamen, said China's Donghai Rescue Bureau. The Donghai bureau dispatched the rescue ship Donghaijiu 116 to the site of the accident.  One of the crewmen was taken to the hospital for emergency treatment, but the rest are not in danger.

Xiamen Ocean Gate Container Terminal commences new service to Europe

PostTime:2014-04-28 09:12:51 View:2279

THE Xiamen Ocean Gate Container Terminal (XOCT) is offering a new international shipping service to Europe with Yang Ming's vessel 8,626-TEU YM Uniformity making its maiden voyage to Guangzhou Nansha, reports Xinhua. The terminal serves 13 shipping services as of now, including seven international shipping lines and six domestic trade lanes. The service will call at Xiamen, Guangzhou-Nansha, Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Yantian, Singapore, Suez, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Felixstowe, Antwerp, Suez and Xiamen, deploying ten ships in the 9,000 TEU range and calling at the XOCT on Tuesdays. The terminal's deputy general manager Zhang Hongqing said the new service could bring an extra 16,000 TEU at month to Xiamen.  It would also further promote trade with Europe and accelerate to develop itself to be an international shipping centre in China's southeast region. Container volume through the Xiamen Ocean Gate Container Terminal is expected to reach 800,000 TEU in 2014.    

Cosco Xiamen buys five general cargo vessels

PostTime:2014-04-25 08:09:08 View:1387

Cosco Xiamen has entered into shipbuilding contracts with Shanghaiguan Shipbuilding to build five 38,300 dwt general cargo vessels. Deliveries for the newbuildings are scheduled in 2015 and financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Cosco Xiamen revealed that the company is taking advantage of China’s latest shipbreaking policy to renew its fleet. The ordering of new vessels would be followed by the phasing out of older vessels in its fleet, the Chinese firm said. China’s ministry of transport announced in December 2013 a policy that will offer subsidies of RMB1,500 ($247) per gross tonne to shipping companies that scrap their vessels before their operational expiry dates. The new general cargo vessels are expected to be deployed on the shipping routes from the Far East to Central and South America.

Xiamen port navigation channel phase 3 project passes inspection

PostTime:2014-01-14 08:56:02 View:685

THE additional engineering of the phase three expansion project of Xiamen port's navigation channel has been completed and has passed acceptance inspection, Xinhua reports. The project will enable containerships of 100,000 tonnes to sail on the navigation channel in both directions at all time. It will also enable container or bulk carriers of 150,000 tonnes to sail in single direction on tide. The dredging distance was 34.8 kilometres. The navigation channel's phase three expansion project is divided into the construction program and the additional engineering program. The construction was already finished in December 2012.

Xiamen port companies reshuffle assets

PostTime:2013-12-30 08:14:43 View:651

More reshuffling is taking place among China port companies, with Xiamen Port Holding selling various assets to sister company Xiamen Port Shipping for RMB52m ($8.6m). Xiamen Port Holding is a controlling shareholder of Xiamen International Port, which is in turn owns 10% of Xiamen Port Shipping.  These assets include a 90-metre long first phase berth, initially built in 2007, and the corresponding rear area of approximately 3605.68 square metres  as well as a 64-metre long 2010-built steel barge and the corresponding ramp bridge, strut and site situated within the Songyu Port Area in Xiamen Port. In considering the purchase Xiamen Internaional Port said: "The board is of the view that the entering into of the Asset Transfer Agreement is beneficial to the group and the shareholders as a whole given that the Asset Transfer will allow Xiamen Port Shipping to satisfy the increasing demand for tugboat services in the Haicang Port Area by securing a berth base." It added: "The acquisition of the assets will also assist Xiamen Port Shipping in maintaining a stable long term development in the Haicang Port Area by providing enhanced services in a more cost-effective manner."

Xiamen's Taiwan fruit imports up 58pc to 10,176 tonnes in nine months

PostTime:2013-10-24 08:06:21 View:692

 THE Xiamen port opposite Taiwan posted a 58.2 per cent year-on-year increase in Taiwanese fruit imports to 10,176 tonnes in the first three quarters, with the import value rising 88.78 per cent to US$11.74 million, according to Xiamen Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, reports Xinhua. The port handled 451 batches of Taiwanese fruit in the first half of the year, with total volume rising 43.1 per cent to 6,955 tonnes, maintaining the largest mainland customs for Taiwan fruit imports since 2008. The largest passenger and freight ro-ro ship between Taiwan and the mainland, "COSCO STAR" started its maiden sailing from Xiamen in September 30, marking the first shipping service linking the mainland and Kaohsiung starting operation. The 186-metre ship can accommodate 683 passengers and can carry 256 TEU containers, focusing on the fruit transport between southern Taiwan and Xiamen, apart from passenger transport. The fruits imported from Taiwan mainly include sugar-apple, wax apple, pineapple, starfruit, guava and shaddock.