China 's 16 million-ton Port Makes It No. 1 Worldwide

CHINA 's development of 16 million-ton capacity ports by the end of 2008 made it the first in the world of such cargo handling capability with the opening of fresh capacity to Tanshan and Lianyungang ports, reports Xinhua.

By the end of 2006, million-ton capacity ports numbered 12, then rose to 14 a year later and then to 16 last year, said China Transport Minister Li Shenglin.

China expanded construction of 154 costal berths, of which the 10,000-ton ports numbered 89, making the capacity increase by 280 million tons. There were 282 new berths built for river ports last year, including twenty-one 10,000-ton berths, 44 times more than there were 30 years ago.

Chinese investments came to CNY75.9 billion (US$11.1 billion) in coastal port construction last year and its investment in river facility buildings grew nine per cent to CNY18.1 billion, Mr Li said.