China's waterway cargo transport rises 7% from January to May
From January to May, approximately 3.9 billion tonnes of cargo were transported via waterways across China, marking a 7 per cent year-on-year increase, according to the Ministry of Transport.
Container throughput at ports across China surpassed 130 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during this period, reflecting an 8.8 per cent rise compared to the previous year, Chinese media reports said quoting vice minister Fu Xuyin.
The country's fixed-asset investment in waterway transport touched 78.6 billion yuan (~$11.1 billion) in the first five months of this year, marking a 7.2 per cent year-on-year increase and maintaining a high level of investment. This funding has supported significant infrastructure projects, such as the Pinglu Canal, which aims to enhance connectivity between south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Southeast Asian countries.
Highlighting the importance of technological advancement, Fu noted that developing smart ports is a top priority for China's waterway transport sector. Efforts are being made to expedite the automation of various port facilities, with 21 container ports and 28 dry bulk ports currently operating automatically.
In 2023, China’s waterway freight volume achieved a record high of approximately 9.4 billion tonnes.
