Taicang port in Jiangsu province sees a steady increase in its cargo throughput in 2019. [Photo/WeChat account: taicangdaily]

The container throughput between Taicang port and Shanghai's Yangshan port is expected to exceed 50,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), local media reported on Dec 22.

Statistics from the administrative committee of Taicang port shows that, from January to November, the container throughput between Taicang and Yangshan ports registered around 45,926 TEUs, up 405.5 percent year on year. As of Dec 8, the number has grown to 47,847.

"The fast development should be attributed to the solid foreign trade sector of southern Jiangsu," said a spokesperson for the administrative committee of Taicang port, "The Taicang port brand is gaining more popularity with our efforts in improving service quality."

The direct shipping service between Taicang and Yangshan ports was first established in June 2015. The direct line features simplified customs procedures and low logistics costs.

"The cost for each TUE is about 400 yuan ($57) less, which is starting to attract companies from remote regions," according to the spokesperson. A total of 13 shipping giants, including Maersk and CMA CGM, have taken part in the Taicang-Yangshan shipping business.

Taicang port is positioned as a major part of the Shanghai international shipping center and a transit hub linking the Yangtze River to the ocean. It ranks the 30th among the world's top 100 container terminals.

The port handled more than 5 million TEUs in 2018, up 12.4 percent from a year before, ranking first among all the ports in the province and 10th domestically, according to local authorities.

It's projected to raise cargo throughput to 250 million tons and container throughput to 6 million TEUs by the end of 2020.