GUANGDONG'S river port Zhaoqing expects to see its throughput rise to 39 million tonnes by 2015, some 55 million tonnes by 2020 and 105 million tonnes by 2030, Xinhua reports.
Zhaoqing's navigational channel is already able to accommodate ships of 3,000-tonnes. The port plans to expand its facilities and raise the standard to 5,000-tonnes in the future.
Port of Zhaoqing is located on the Xijiang River, a river running through the western Guangdong province. Its throughput had grown to 24.89 million tonnes in 2011 from 7.66 million tonnes back in 2007 while waterborne cargo volume had risen to 8.24 million tonnes in 2011 from 6.61 million tonnes in 2009. Waterway cargo traffic turnover has climbed 16.1 per cent in the past three years.
As throughput continues to grow, Zhaoqing is attracting more major freight forwarders, such as China Shipping, Cosco and Hainan Pan Ocean Shipping to come and set up their branch offices in the city.