Containers are seen at the Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai, April 24, 2018. [Photo/Agencies]

The Yangshan Deep Water Port, part of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone produced a throughput of 1.736 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in January, an increase of 20.9 percent over the same period of last year, according to the Shanghai FTZ administrative committee.

According to the statistics, 831,000 TEUs of the total were seaborne and inland waterway ship transfers (water-to-water), saw an increase of 23.8 percent; while international transshipment reached 222,000 TEUs, going up by 67.8 percent.

A total of 1,721 container ships securely moored at the berth of Yangshan port, of which 378 were trunk line container ships.

In the same period, Waigaoqiao Port handled 1.637 million TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 0.3 percent; there was also 14.215 million tons of cargo throughput, down 2.5 percent; and 3,842 docking trips, an increase of 17.5 percent.

Statistically, the container throughput and the international transhipment volume in Yangshan port both saw big increases.

Sources have revealed that more main lines will be moved to Yangshan Bonded Area this year. It is also predicted that more international shipping, trading and logistics enterprises will settle in the Yangshan port with the expectation that Shanghai is going to expand its free trade zones.

On Feb 19, Che Jun, Party secretary of Zhejiang province and Li Qiang, Shanghai's Party secretary, witnessed the signing of the agreement on cooperation on the comprehensive development of the northern Xiao Yangshan area by Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) and Zhejiang Seaport Investment & Operation Group. 

This agreement provides a new opportunity for Zhejiang and Shanghai to further develop and open-up the Yangshan area, as part of the high-quality integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta.