CHINA's ports are once again poised to handle the most containers in the world over a single year, according to the country's official state media.
Xinhua quoted a Ministry of Communications report that said a total of 75 million TEU was expected to be handled in 2005 in the world's most populous nation, up 20 per cent from 61.68 million TEU in 2004.
Some of that massive amount of freight is being dealt with at the likes of the port of Shanghai, one of the mainland's largest ports, which is forecast to handle 18 million TEU this year, while Shenzhen and Qingdao port areas are earmarked to process 14 million TEU and 6.5 million TEU this year, respectively.
The mainland currently has 1,430 ports and 34,000 berths, as well as a fleet of about 210,000 vessels that are capable of holding more than 86 million tons of cargo.
China also has bilateral shipping links with over 60 countries and regions in the world, the report added.
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