TIANJIN, the major northern port that serves Beijing, posted a 6.2 per cent year-on-year increase in container handling to 12.3 million TEU with overall cargo rising 5.3 per cent to 476 million tonnes.
In 2012, Tianjin Port Group recorded a revenue of CNY25.1 billion (US$4.03 billion). The group made investments totalling CNY13.5 billion during the year. Total value of the assets of the group surpassed CNY100 billion.
According to Xinhua, despite depression in both the domestic and foreign trade market, Tianjin has managed to maintain growth.
Last year, there were 15 new container services launched at Tianjin and nine upgraded by either deploying bigger ships or by increasing frequencies. Four carriers launched Bohai Rim feeder lines, producing 30 per cent traffic growth for the sector. The number of bulk and steel shipping services increased to five and volumes grew 24 per cent.
Tianjin also built two regional marketing centres and three "dry port" facilities in the hinterland. It now has a total of four regional marketing centres and 23 dry ports, which has safeguarded throughput growth. The port also started cargo train service to Xinjiang's Hohhot and sea-rail intermodal to the hinterland city Ningxia.
Tianjin also completed a number of other projects, which helped increase throughput including a liquefied natural gas terminal, a heavy machinery manufacturing plant, and an oil terminal.