Major Chinese ports container volume back to growth in late April

PostTime:2022-05-20 11:44:59 View:179

Container volume at eight major Chinese ports increased 5.8% year-on-year in late April following the operational resumption of factories and ports, especially in Yangtze river delta region. Katherine Si | May 19, 2022 Export container volumes increased 4.9% while domestic volumes were up 8.5%. The container handling capacity of Shanghai port was gradually improving and the volume in late April was 8.5% higher than the amount in mid-April. Cargo throughput at major coastal hub ports increased 1.5% while international trade cargo throughput dropped 1.1%. Related: Major Chinese ports container volume falls 5.7% in mid-April Crude oil shipments at major coastal ports were up 11.1% year-on-year in late April. Among which the ports of Rizhao and Dalian posted a growth rate of over 30%. Metal ore shipments at major Chinese ports increased 5%, among which the ports of Tianjin and Ningbo-Zhoushan posted a growth rate of over 15%.  In late April, cargo throughput and container volume at three major Yangtze River ports, Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing, increased 6% and 5%.  Affected by the covid-outbreaks inland, eight major Chinese ports’ container volume slightly increased 0.3% year-on-year for the whole month of April. Among which, the port of Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shenzhen maintained a growth rate of over 10%.    

ABS launches sustainability centre in Shanghai

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ABS is extending its global sustainability centre network to Shanghai to support the industry in China. Katherine Si | May 13, 2022 Following the establishment of sustainability centers in Athens, Houston, Copenhagen and Singapore, ABS has opened up its fifth global sustainability centre in Shanghai.  The Shanghai centre will focus on promoting marine innovation, providing specialized information for low-carbon economy, developing ESG strategy and supporting green financing.  Related: ABS and HHI team up on autonomous vessels “ABS’s support to the sustainable development of Pacific region has grown strongly after the launch of sustainability center in Singapore. We will provide customized decarbonisation strategy and technical guidance to Chinese clients, as well as the cutting-edge sustainable development services to the industry,” said Georgios Plevrakis, ABS Vice President for Global Sustainability.

Covid restrictions limit China's exports growth to 2 year-low

PostTime:2022-05-16 09:10:12 View:207

EXPORT growth in China dropped to its lowest level in almost two years, while imports stayed relatively the same in April as increasing Covid curbs stopped factory production, reports Reuters. Exports in dollar terms grew 3.9 per cent in April from a year earlier, dropping sharply from the 14.7 per cent growth reported in March although slightly better than analysts' forecast of 3.2 per cent. It was the slowest pace since June 2020. Imports were broadly stable year-on-year, improving slightly from a 0.1 per cent fall in March and a bit better than the three per cent contraction tipped by the Reuters poll. The weak figures show China's trade sector, which accounts for about a third of gross domestic product, is losing momentum as lockdowns across the country ensnared supply chains in major centres like Shanghai, heightening risks of a deeper slowdown in the world's second-largest economy and beyond.  

Shanghai extending empty container service to Taicang port

PostTime:2022-05-12 09:56:40 View:274

Shanghai empty container center has opened up a unit at the neighboring port of Taicang in Suzhou. Katherine Si | May 11, 2022 Shanghai empty container center’s branch in Taicang aims to provide sufficient empty containers and convenient container distribution and transshipment services for foreign trading along the upper and mid-reach of Yangtze river Shanghai port and Taicang port started to jointly improve waterway transportation capacity in April and opened up green channel for cargos to Shanghai which could be transferred at the port of Taicang, and upgraded the land-to-water transport solutions between Shanghai and Taicang especially during the recent covid-outbreaks in Shanghai.  Related: SIPG and Evergreen team up for empty container centre development In April, Taicang port posted a container volume of 627,000 teu, an increase of 6.7% year-on-year. Among which, foreign trade volume was 349,000 teu, increased 15.2%. 

Shanghai port container handling drops 25pc in April lockdown

PostTime:2022-05-11 10:02:03 View:275

SHANGHAI, the world's largest container port, has suffered a daily container handling decline of 25 per cent in April, reports Colchester's Seatrade Maritime News. With many of the factories shut down, warehouses closed and logistics options limited, cargo volume at Shanghai port dropped in April. The daily average container handling capacity of Shanghai was expected to be around 100,000 TEU during April a decline of 25 per cent compared with the normal levels in the past. In particular while the port was operational there was a severe shortage of trucking capacity on the landside. To reduce inland container transportation pressure, Shanghai heavily promoted water-to-water with barging and feedering from nearby ports, land-to-sea and sea-rail combined transportation to try and stabilise the supply chain. In April, water-to-water transshipment volume of Shanghai was around 1.99 million TEU, accounting for 65 per cent of the total container volume of Shanghai port in April. The lockdown continues in much of Shanghai although there have been tentative steps to open areas where transmission has dropped to zero. The city government is also pushing to get more factory production back into operation.  

Ningbo-Zhoushan hits record container volume amid Shanghai lockdown Photo: Ningbo - Zhoushan

PostTime:2022-05-10 10:59:48 View:251

Single month container volume of China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan port exceeded 3m teu in April, hitting a record high. Katherine Si | May 09, 2022 In April, Ningbo-Zhoushan port is expected to post a container throughput of over 3m teu, a new high for single month and an increase of 10% year-on-year.  Amid the recent covid-outbreaks happened in Yangtze river delta, especially the wave in its neighboring port Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan port maintained smooth operation for container trucks transportation and provided more solutions including opening up new services, adding freight places and adjusting empty containers to effectively relieve the logistics pressure in Yangtze river delta region.  Related: Shanghai port container handling drops 25% in April lockdown Shanghai port while operational saw 25% drop in volumes during April as it faced logistical challenges due to the lockdown. Some cargo that would normally be trucked through the city to the port was instead moved on vessels from nearby ports such as Ningbo. The direct rail to port service from Ningbo-Zhoushan saw rapid growth handling 135,000 teu of sea-rail container volumes in April, an increase of 32.3% year-on-year.  Related: Ningbo-Zhoushan port box volumes grow 3.2% in Q1 Ningbo-Zhoushan port handled a historic high number of 297 container shipping services ending April.

Hutchison's HUD to build Hong Kong's first dual fuel standby vessels

PostTime:2022-05-10 10:48:09 View:242

HONGKONG United Dockyards Limited (HUD), a company wholly owned by members of CK Hutchison Group, announced its plan to build the first dual fuel (Liquefied Natural Gas-Marine Gas Oil, LNG-MGO) standby vessels, in support of the Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2030+ to reduce carbon intensity. The company last week held a steel cutting ceremony marking the beginning of the construction of the two vessel - the first of its kind to be deployed in Hong Kong. These two standby vessels will be designed, equipped and maintained as seagoing vessels to provide 24x7 services in order to enhance the safety and security of marine operations and carry out rapid evacuations in the event of an emergency, HUD said in a statement. The vessels are being constructed to support the future operations of the first offshore LNG terminal in Hong Kong. Built pursuant to a long term charter party and services agreement between HUD and Hong Kong LNG Terminal Limited, the vessels are currently under construction by Cheoy Lee Shipyards Ltd in Zhuhai and of Robert Allan RAStar4200-DF design. "By using LNG as opposed to traditional forms of marine fuel, harmful emissions such as particulates, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides will be reduced by 80 per cent, which will help keep skies blue and the air clean in Hong Kong," says Paul Fan, CEO of HUD. Hongkong Salvage & Towage (HKST), a division of HUD and renowned in the industry for providing multi-disciplinary marine services, will take multiple roles in designing, owning and operating the vessels. To support round-the-clock operation, HKST will link the vessel's surveillance system with its control centre which connects to real time marine traffic and weather conditions to allow for better safety precaution, ensure efficient control and provide immediate response and assistance. In response to the Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+ Report and in support of the increased use of natural gas for power generation in Hong Kong, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP Power) and The Hongkong Electric Co, Ltd (HK Electric) are currently constructing an offshore liquefied natural gas terminal, which will be the first of its kind in Hong Kong.  

Shanghai port container handling drops 25% in April lockdown

PostTime:2022-05-09 09:59:13 View:201

The world’s largest container port in Shanghai has managed to maintain operations during the Covid lockdown of China’s commercial heart, but daily container handling dropped by about 25% in April. Katherine Si | May 06, 2022 With many of the factories shut down, warehouses closed and logistics options limited, cargo volume at Shanghai port dropped in April. The daily average container handling capacity of Shanghai was expected to be around 100,000 teu during April a decline of 25% compared with the normal levels in the past.  Related: Shanghai lockdown: Disruption grows to logistics, shipyards and production In particular while the port was operational there was a severe shortage of trucking capacity on the landside. To reduce inland container transportation pressure, Shanghai heavily promoted water-to-water with barging and feedering from nearby ports, land-to-sea and sea-rail combined transportation to try and stabilise the supply chain. In April, water-to-water transshipment volume of Shanghai was around 1.99m teu, accounting for 65% of the total container volume of Shanghai port in April. Related: Restricted to Ship – episode 2 – Ghosted in Shanghai The lockdown continues in much of Shanghai although there have been tentative steps to open areas where transmission has dropped to zero. The city government is also pushing to get more factory production back into operation.

Major Chinese ports container volume falls 5.7% in mid-April

PostTime:2022-05-09 09:56:32 View:114

Container volume at eight major Chinese port declined by 5.7% year-on-year in mid-April affected by the recent Covid outbreaks in Yangtze River delta region. Katherine Si | May 06, 2022 Export container volumes dropped 4.1% while the domestic volumes declined 9.9% in mid-April. For early to mid–April, container volume at eight major Chinese ports declined 2.6% year-on-year.  Cargo throughput at major coastal hub ports declined 5.2% while international trade cargo throughput dropped 4.9%. Related: Shanghai port container handling drops 25% in April lockdown Crude oil shipments at major coastal ports dropped 0.4% year-on-year. Among which the port of Rizhao and Tianjin posted a growth rate of over 30%. Metal ore shipments at major Chinese ports declined 1.6%, among which the port of Tianjin posted a growth rate of over 30%. In mid-April, cargo throughput and container volume at three major Yangtze River ports, Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing, dropped 10.2% and 9.9%, respectively. 

Cosco Shipping Ports' Q1 profit edges up 2.6pc to U$74.9m

PostTime:2022-05-05 10:04:01 View:221

MAJOR port operator Cosco Shipping Ports (CSP) says profit attributable to equity holders in the first quarter of the year increased 2.6 per cent to US$74.9 million, compared to the same period in 2021. Revenue surged 21.4 per cent year on year to $329.7 million on the back of "effective sales and marketing strategy and contribution of subsidiary of Tianjin Container Terminal since December 2021. Total throughput in the three-month period totalled 30.3 million TEU, a slight increase of 0.3 per cent compared to the first three months of 2021. Total throughput of the Greater China region decreased by 3.6 per cent year on year to 22.5 million TEU (Q1 2021: 23.2 million TEU) and accounted for 74.3 per cent of the group's total. The Bohai Rim region total volume in the three months totalled 9.5 million TEU, a fall of 4.0 per cent year on year (Q1 2021: 9.9 million TEU), accounting for 31.5 per cent of the group's total. The Yangtze River Delta region saw volume decreased by 3.3 per cent to 3.6 million TEU in 2022 (Q1 2021: 3.7 TEU) and accounted for 11.8 per cent of the group's total. Southeast Coast region throughput increased by 16.4 per cent to 1.6 million TEU (Q1 2021: 1.4 million TEU) and accounted for 5.2 per cent of the group's total. Total throughput of the Pearl River Delta region decreased by 8.0 per cent to 6.4 million TEU (Q1 2021: 6.9 million TEU) and accounted for 21.2 per cent of the group's total. The total throughput of its overseas ports increased by 11.7 per cent to 7.8 million TEU (Q1 2021: 6.9 million TEU) and accounted for 25.7 per cent of the group's total. Looking ahead, CSP said the situation of Covid-19 pandemic is still severe at the beginning of 2022, which brings uncertainties to the recovery of global economy. "Confronted with quite a lot of challenges, Cosco Shipping Ports continues to strengthen lean operations strategy, focus on improving quality and efficiency, control costs and maintain a stable financial situation. "The Group will be able to leverage on its ample cash and cash equivalents to maintain a stable financial position and facilitate sustainable development, which will also support its dividend policy in 2022."  

Restricted to Ship – episode 2 – Ghosted in Shanghai Photo: YouTube screenshot

PostTime:2022-05-05 09:48:05 View:255

The second episode is online of a YouTube series documenting life onboard a US-flagged containership stranded mid-repair in a Shanghai shipyard during on the current lockdown. Marcus Hand | May 04, 2022 The second episode entitled “Ghosted in Shanghai” recounts life on days 21 and 28 of the lockdown onboard the vessel and trying to deal with keeping shoreside power running. The vessel’s engine is in pieces mid-repair and a ballast water treatment system partially fitted. The episode focuses in on individuals in the crew, many close to or past the end of their contracts, and how they are coping with the situation and unsure when they will next see their families. “We are keeping ourselves busy to fight the boredom,” says one. Another questions if they’ll ever got off the ship. Related: Shanghai lockdown: Life on a ship stuck in a repair yard Even once work restarts, whenever that might be, its estimated it would take another six weeks to complete. The crew on the vessel featured are not the only ones stranded with another 25 ships said to be in the yard.

China ports handle almost 70m TEU in Q1 2022

PostTime:2022-04-28 09:20:55 View:186

STATISTICS from the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China show that container volumes through Chinese ports have reached 67.4 million TEU in the period of January to March 2022, a year-on-year increase of 2.4 per cent. According to the latest data, ports across the country also processed 3.63 billion tonnes of cargo in Q1 2022, an increase of 1.6 per cent compared to the same period the previous year. Despite the city's recent lockdown, the Port of Shanghai remains the best-performing port in China, handling a total of 3.81 million TEU in March 2022, up 11.7 per cent compared to the same month last year. In Q1 2022, the port moved 8.16 million TEU. China's second largest port - the Port of Ningbo Zhoushan - saw a 0.9 per cent decline in throughput last month, only processing 2.29 million TEU. This was most likely driven by newly implemented Covid-19 measures. For the first quarter of the year, Ningbo moved 5.25 million TEU, up 1.1 per cent compared to Q1 2021. The Port of Shenzhen saw one of the largest declines in throughput last month with container volumes falling 13.3 per cent to 1.82 million TEU. This was a direct result of the city going into lockdown on March 16. Over the last three months, the port has handled 4.28 million TEU, a 10.9 per cent reduction compared to the same period in 2021, according to London's Port Technology International.