Dalian-Xiamen containerised grain shipments to be launched

PostTime:2011-07-08 08:13:47 View:813

DALIAN Port Group and Xiamen Port Group, the operators of northeast China's port of Dalian and southeast's port of Xiamen, have signed a strategic cooperation heads of agreement on inaugurating a domestic trade container line between the two ports, Xinhua reports. According to the agreement, the two groups will also cooperate on shipping grain as bulk in containers, serving as transit hub for each other, developing sea-rail intermodal to other hinterland regions and launching direct container shipping to Taiwan. The route will offer one sailing a week initially, but will deploy more ships and increase frequency in the future according to the development of the market. Port of Dalian is paying frequent visit to the grain shippers recently to secure its grain bulk container shipping service and has completed shipping 831 TEU of such cargo.

Kerry Logistics starts building Xiamen logistics centre

PostTime:2011-06-20 08:18:32 View:1284

HONG KONG's Kerry Logistics has started building a logistics centre in Xiamen that will cover a total area of 42,600 square metres to facilitate products across a range of industries, including hi-tech and electronics, food and beverage, wine and temperature-sensitive cargo. Situated within the Haicang export processing zone, the facility is scheduled to commence operations in the third quarter of 2012, a statement said. Haicang's approved export processing zones is also a bonded area equipped with roads, electricity, telecommunications, water, sewage treatment, heaters and it has a liquefied gas supply.

Xiamen Shipbuilding wins four bulkers

PostTime:2011-02-10 11:17:23 View:697

China's Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry has won four 82,000-dwt bulkers from a domestic shipowenr with delivery schedule and newbuilding prices undiscovered. This is the second time for the yard to receive 82K-type bulkers following the first order in last September. With the new order, the yard's orderbook has come to seven 82K bulkers and 20 57K bulkers, securing work by 2013. The yard used to focus on pure car carriers but has turned to 57K bulkers as newbuilding orders for car carriers have decreased since the global financial crisis in 2008. The main customers of the yard for bulkers are usually Chinese shipowners and, for example, the yard won three 82K bulkers in last summer from one of the local shipowners, entering into the 80K-class bulker market.

Cross-sea bridge offers a route to prosperity

PostTime:2011-01-06 08:03:40 View:784

Development zone helps islanders emerge from isolated past. Peng Yining and Hu Meidong report from Xiamen.Zheng Xialao burst into tears when he traveled across the newly built Pingtan Straits Bridge for the first time."It's a dream come true," said the 77-year-old as he rode a tour bus over the 3,510-meter crossing."Soon, Pingtan county will be prosperous, and not just an isolated island. There will be factories and my grandchildren will be able to find good jobs."The retired fisherman is not the only one who hopes the completion of Fujian province's first cross-sea bridge is a sign of things to come.After being selected as a cross-Straits development zone due to its close proximity to Taiwan, Pingtan's 400,000 or so residents have been eagerly awaiting a revival of the island's flagging fortunes. In announcing the move, authorities promised an influx of new investors and employers."If the project brings more jobs, my daughter can stop drifting from city to city as a migrant worker," said Lin Yun, 46, who runs a small fish food business. "She can come home."Previously, villagers had to rely on ferry services to reach the mainland, with a trip to the provincial capital, Fuzhou, usually taking five hours. By using the new Pingtan to Fuqing crossing, the journey can be completed in two.Excitement in the run-up to the bridge opening on Nov 30 was palpable. Some pensioners visited the construction site as much as once a week to check on the progress, said Zheng, who was given a free tour on one of 11 buses arranged by county officials."The bridge is just the first step," said Li Yiren, deputy director of the county's publicity office. "More changes, more jobs and more business opportunities are on the way."Fishing communityPingtan, which lies 125 kilometers west of Taiwan's northwestern city of Hsinchu and was selected as a cross-Straits cooperation zone in July 2009, is stretched over 392 square kilometers. However, the vast majority of residents are concentrated in western settlements, facing the mainland.Farming here is difficult due to the high salinity of the soil and the lack of fresh water (most fruit and vegetables are shipped in), yet more importantly the lack of convenient transport links has prevented the island from developing any large industries.More than 40,000 people still make their living fishing the shallow waters off Pingtan's coast."Fishing is dangerous, tiring and the pay is extremely low," said Zhou Qiuxing, 46, a fisherman from Dong'ao village. "We even work in deadly storms."Like many others, Zhou spends months at sea on a 20-meter-long boat. His face is already a deep tan, while his hands are rough with calluses."The work is far too dangerous. I will never let my children do it," he said, before explaining that he had invested in two new boats this year to help pay college tuition for his 20-year-old son and 23-year-old daughter. "I'd love to be able to do a different job, but there aren't many choices here," he added.With prices around 100,000 yuan ($15,000), not all villagers can afford to buy fishing boats, forcing many to turn to Taiwan employers.The central government unveiled a policy that allowed fishermen from Pingtan and other coastal regions to work on Taiwan fishing vessels in 1988 and, during the 1990s there were roughly 3,000 Pingtan residents working for Taiwan bosses at any one time.However, although the average salary has steadily risen over the past three decades to 2,600 yuan, the number of Pingtan fishermen with Taiwan firms was just 700 in 2010."A mainland fisherman can cost half as much as one from Taiwan but many are now working for more money as migrant workers in big cities instead," said 48-year-old former fisherman Yu Changmao, who added that Taiwan trawlers sail out after Spring Festival and usually do not return until the following year.According to official data, roughly 50,000 young people have left Pingtan Island in search of better employment opportunities since the 1980s. Most are working in tunnel construction and on ocean liners.Popular portPingtan was first founded as a cross-Straits commerce port during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Today, islanders have more than 200,000 relatives in Taiwan.Lin Wenmin, a 74-year-old retired county official, said he remembers seeing businessmen rowing white boats across the Straits in the 1940s. "They sold fish, and bought sugar and rice from Taiwan," he said.Despite a ban on "bartering" in the 1980s, Lin said Pingtan fishermen still exchanged their hauls for Taiwan products like watches and umbrellas, which at the time were still "rare and precious on the mainland"."We rowed our boat and exchanged our goods," recalled Yu Changmao, who now works as a dock watchman. "I once bought a watch with 25 kg of fish."Pingtan's Dong'ao dock was one of the Chinese mainland's earliest "Taiwan ship mooring points" and since the late 1970s has welcomed 20,000 merchant fleets and 100,000 residents from Taiwan.At its peak, more than 30 ships were arriving every day, prompting local authorities to build hotels and office buildings on the dock."People became rich trading with Taiwan businessmen," said Lin, "but in the early 1990s cooperation was suspended for security reasons and the boom times ended."By 2000, just two or three Taiwan vessels were arriving a day. "Now we're lucky if we get one every two to three days," said Chen Gongliang, who sells marine products in Pingtan.The hotels and offices built in the 1980s gradually fell into disrepair. A slogan painted on the side of a building that reads "Welcome, Taiwan Compatriots" has all but faded from sight."Pingtan's development has been held back as it has been considered a frontier defense area for a long time," said Wu Guogong, a former member of the People's Liberation Army from Pingtan.In 1996, Beijing conducted a military exercise in waters off Pingtan "to show that the country has the ability to strive for reunification across the Straits, and guard the country's sovereign and territorial integrity", according to a report from Xinhua News Agency at the time."Taiwan is five hours away by sail boat," said Yu. "Sometimes a strong wind would blow our boats to the shallow sea around Taiwan and we'd have to row furiously as we weren't allowed to go within 16 sea miles (30 km) of the island."Future plansAccording to plans published by Pingtan county, the cooperation zone is aimed at attracting Taiwan investors and residents through direct trade and shipping services.There will be a high-tech industrial zone, a chemicals industry along the harbor and an agriculture area, including farms for Taiwan producers, in the north.Officials are also applying for more preferential policies, including a cross-Straits duty-free market that would appeal to business groups and travelers.More than 200 businesses worldwide are already exploring new opportunities in Pingtan, while one street now boasts more than 20 newly built budget hotels."The cooperation project must bring more visitors," said a Pingtan businessman surnamed Jiang, who explained that he has just opened a decoration company because "once large-scale construction projects start there will be many decoration businesses".As news of the zone has spread, property prices rocketed from 3,000 yuan to 7,000 yuan per square meter, said publicity official Li Yiren.However, the project is already helping to change residents' attitudes. Taxi driver Wan Hong, 29, said he had been planning to move his family away before the 2009 announcement but decided to stay as "it looks like a great opportunity"."I don't care if the project makes a breakthrough in the cross-Straits relationship, I only care how it will change my life," he said.

Xiamen completes yearly volume target ahead of schedule

PostTime:2011-01-05 07:38:49 View:1040

BY the end of November, southeastern Port of Xiamen had lifted 5.3 million TEU in 2010, up 24.4 per cent year on year, marking the advanced completion of its throughput mission for the year, Xinhua reports. During the first 11 months, there were four million TEU from the port's international shipping lanes, up 24.7 per cent. 1.1 million were from domestic trade lanes, up 24 per cent year on year. There were 191,300 TEU were from feeder lines, up 21.7 per cent, with another 300,000 TEU from mainland-Taiwan shipping lines, up 12.3 per cent.

Xiamen stays as largest port for Taiwan fruit import

PostTime:2010-12-27 07:51:43 View:756

CUSTOMS of southeastern China's Xiamen city recorded Taiwan fruit import volume of 56.2 million tonnes during the first 11 months this year, up 50.1 per cent year on year, enabling it to stay for the third consecutive year as the largest port for Taiwan fruit import, surpassing Shanghai and Shenzhen. These fruits valued at US$5.4 million, up 72 per cent year on year, according to Xinhua's report. 27.9 million tonnes of these cargo were shipped on Xiamen-Jinmen shipping service. This route is said to be faster, more convenient and flexible compared to other cross-strait shipping services, taking only more than two hours. Xiamen customs has given much support to the Mainland-Taiwan fruit petty trade, offering exclusive inspection service for such cargo which shippers can arrange appointment beforehand so that their fruit can be checked on arrival.

Xiamen port half-year box volume up 28pc

PostTime:2010-08-06 08:09:26 View:758

THE Port of Xiamen, opposite Taiwan, handled 2.7 million TEU from January to June, an increase of 28.2 per cent compared to the same period last year, Xinhua reported.In this period, the port recorded a growth of 20.9 per cent in its throughput tonnage to 6.1 million tonnes. This is the fastest growth ever recorded by the port in recent years.International transshipments totalled to 160,000 TEU, 15.9 per cent more than last year. Sea-rail intermodal boxes surged 83.1 per cent to 13,000 TEU.In the first half of year, there were two new shipping lines included Xiamen in their rotation, increasing 64 extra sailings to the port each month, raising the trade lane total to 164 and monthly sailing total to 880.

Xiamen customs half year trade value surges 48pc

PostTime:2010-07-29 08:41:58 View:724

DURING the first half of this year, Xiamen customs recorded a trade value of US$39.3 billion, a strong increase of 48.1 per cent compared to the same period a year ago, Xinhua reported.Export cargo valued $24.2 billion, up 36.3 per cent year on year. Import value jumped 72.1 per cent to $15.1 billion.In June, the customs recorded a monthly trade value of $7.4 billion, up 39.9 per cent year on year and 8.6 per cent over May.In this month, import value increased 43.4 per cent year on year and 9.1 per cent month on month to $2.8 billion. Export value went up 3.8 per cent year on year and 8.3 per cent over May to $4.6 billion.

Xiamen wins supramax pair

PostTime:2010-07-23 13:26:37 View:981

Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry has bagged a pair of supramax bulkers from an Asian shipping company. A Xiamen executive discloses that Hong Kong-based SanFeng Shipping has booked the 57,000-dwt bulkers for delivery in the second half of 2012. The yard does not reveal the price but market players suggest it is between $27m and $28m. Xiamen Shipbuilding says it has inked a total of 12 supramax bulkers this year including the latest order. However, it does not disclose the owners behind the 10 ships but Hong Kong-registered Hong­Xin International Shipping was said to have signed up for two firm plus two options in Febuary, while Xiamen C&D inked one vessel last month. Xiamen C&D is a logistics and property company and also a major shareholder in Xiamen Shipbuilding. The company is said to be taking delivery of the newbuilding in 2011 and is paying around $30m for the ship. Xiamen C&D has said that it ordered the bulker to help it improve its transport services. HongXin International Shipping was reported to have paid around $27m each for its newbuildings and is scheduled to take delivery in the first half of 2012. State-owned Xiamen Shipbuilding says it has an orderbook of 20 supramax bulkers. Clients to have contracted the 57,000-dwt bulkers at the yard include Guangdong Lanhai Shipping, Fujian Provincial Communication Transportation (FPCT) and TianHong Shipping.

Xiamen airport launches air-truck intermodal service to Shantou

PostTime:2009-07-30 08:52:52 View:2024

XIAMEN Gaoqi Airport, situated in southeastern China's Fujian province, has inaugurated a three-time-weekly air-truck intermodal service to eastern Guangdong city Shantou, Logistics Week reported. The service is the first of such kind launched between provinces. Exports manufactured in Shantou can be transported to Xiamen airport via the service, making use of the airport's extensive international cargo network, as can the imports to Shantou and vice a versa. Xiamen and Shantou customs are cooperating in offering one-stop customs clearance for users of the service. Shippers can go through the customs formalities in their local areas, and then their cargo will be directly loaded onto aircraft after being checked by the Xiamen customs. Shantou, a manufacturing city in eastern Guangdong province, is some 300 kilometres, the equivalent of around four hour's ride from the Xiamen airport. While Xiamen airport has abundant cargo capacity with 42 airfreight services a week. The new service will create a win-win situation for both sides, said the report.

Xiamen's feeder service crosses bay faster than trucks can go around it

PostTime:2008-01-08 08:50:25 View:1690

XIAMEN port recently launched a container feeder service between port areas on the two sides of Xiamen Bay, Xinhua reported.Xiamen port covers port areas on the North shore of Xiamen Bay including Dongdu and Haicang, and port areas on the south shore including Zhaoyin in Zhangzhou city.As many foreign trade services call the North shore port areas and few call the south shore port areas, import cargo of Zhangzhou city had to be discharged at Dongdu or Haicang port areas and then transported to Zhangzhou by truck while export cargo was trucked to Dongdu or Haicang to be loaded on ships for ocean passage, the report said.With the new feeder service, Zhangzhou import containers can be loaded onto feeder vessels and directly delivered to Zhaoyin port area for customs clearance. Meanwhile, export containers from Zhangzhou will be taken by feeder vessels to Dongdu and Haicang to be loaded on seagoing ships.The feeder service will help to reduce time and expense between the two sides of Xiamen Bay because trucking service took more time and money while feeder distance is only 2.5 nautical miles and takes 40 to 60 minutes. Freight rates for the feeder service is CNY400 (US$54.98) per TEU and CNY500 ($68.73) per FEU.

CMA CGM, NWS to develop Xiamen Haicang Port

PostTime:2007-12-07 08:24:52 View:1226

CMA CGM, France's largest and the world's third largest container shipping company, has signed a strategic co-operation agreement with Xiamen Municipal government and Hong Kong’s NWS Holdings. The parties plan to jointly develop Xiamen’s Haicang Port.The three plan to invest in the construction of container terminals that are scheduled to start operation in 2009.