Zhangjiagang Port witnessed significant growth in shipping activities during the first eight months of this year.
From January to August, a total of 204,000 vessel movements were recorded at Zhangjiagang Port, with cargo throughput reaching 1.62 billion metric tons. These figures represent a year-on-year increase of 22.2 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively.
Notably, Zhangjiagang Port also saw a substantial rise in the number of international vessels calling at the port, with 4,099 ships entering and leaving, marking a 9.7 percent year-on-year increase.
The remarkable growth in vessel traffic can be attributed to the efficient and convenient port operations that Zhangjiagang has maintained. Since the beginning of this year, the Zhangjiagang maritime bureau has introduced 34 measures aimed at enhancing ship clearance efficiency and service quality. These measures have resulted in a 46-percent reduction in clearance time for incoming vessels and a 76-percent reduction for outbound vessels.
Zhangjiagang Port currently boasts 87 open berths, the most among all Chinese counties. During the first eight months of 2023, the port handled a total of 45.83 million tons of foreign trade goods, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 3.8 percent. Container throughput reached 630,000 TEUs, up 9.9 percent year-on-year.
A wide range of cargo is traded through Zhangjiagang Port, including traditional commodities such as automobiles, timber, sand, coal, and steel, as well as products manufactured by local enterprises, including wind turbine equipment and heavy machinery.
The Zhangjiagang Port in Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]