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Shanghai now world No 2 in port tonnage

Shanghai became the world's second busiest port in terms of tonnage last year, city port authorities have announced.

It moved 379 million tonnes of cargo last year, overtaking Rotterdam as the world's second largest cargo port, and came second only to Singapore, which handled 388 million tonnes.

Shanghai was also the world's third largest container port last year, handling 14.55 million twenty foot equivalent units (teu), 29 per cent more than in 2003. It trails Hong Kong and Singapore, but has overtaken Shenzhen as the largest container port on the mainland.

Shanghai is consolidating its position as a regional shipping hub, with the first phase of the massive Yangshan deepwater port and supporting infrastructure to be completed at the end of the year.

This will allow ships handling more than 8,000 teu to enter the port. Shallow waters prevent container ships with capacities of more than 3,000 teu from using existing facilities.

The first phase would add five berths and an annual handling capacity of 2.2 million teu when completed this year, Shanghai Municipal Port Administration Bureau director Xu Peixing said.

The 52-berth Yangshan port project is being built on a group of islands in Hangzhou Bay and will be linked to Shanghai by a 31km bridge. Shanghai moved 15 per cent of all goods handled by mainland coastal ports last year.

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