Qingdao, China's second largest foreign trading port, saw an 8.7 per cent increase year on year in throughput to 170.48 million tonnes in the first half year, reports Xinhua.

Foreign trade cargo throughput grew 21 per cent to hit 128.87 million tonnes in the first half of the year, while container throughput increased 11.5 per cent to 5.66 million TEU.

The port's authority said it attributed the increased cargo throughput to a series of technological innovations and a low-carbon drive.