TAIWAN's international ports handled a total of 6.81 million TEU, representing an increase of 2.9 per cent compared to the same period last year, reaching a new high since 1985 despite volatile global economies, reports China Economic News Service.

Kaohsiung Harbour handled 790,000 TEU or 69.7 per cent of the total in June to lead its peers, according to the statistics from the Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC).

But throughput was down 0.9 per cent year on year, followed by Keelung Port's throughput of 130,000 TEU which was down 12.6 per cent compared to June 2011 mainly impacted by routing schedules of shippers.

However, the cargo load at Taichung has been on the increase to reach 120,000 TEU in June, a hike of 2.4 per cent compared to the same month last year. Taipei Harbour handled 90,000 TEU, representing a sizable rise of 43.7 per cent year on year.

Cross-strait direct shipping saw box throughput reaching 180,000 TEU in June, up 8.7 per cent year on year. Taiwan-China container volume in the first half of the year reached 104,000 TEU, an increase of 9.3 per cent over the same six-month period last year to hit a new high since the opening of such direct link in December 2008.