Busy ports herald robust foreign trade

Active trade: Immigration inspection officers in protective overalls march near a container ship at a port in Qingdao. In September, the monthly container production capacity in China surged from 200,000 TEUs to a record high of 500,000 TEUs. — AP

BEIJING: China’s container shipping sector registered steadfast growth this year amid headwinds from the Covid-19 pandemic and container shortages, indicating the country’s robust foreign trade and economic resilience.

Cargo throughput at China’s ports totalled 12.87 billion tonnes in the first 10 months, up 7.8% year-on-year (y-o-y). During the period, container throughput reached 235 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), expanding by 8.4% from a year earlier.