THE ports of Shanghai and Shenzhen both experienced an increase in throughput over the first seven months of the year as compared to the same period in 2003.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, Shanghai handled more than eight million TEU over the period, an increase of 29.3 per cent. The monthly figure for July was 1.25 million TEU, an increase of 28.3 per cent over July 2003.

The Shenzhen Port Authority reported that the port handled approximately 7.2 million TEU during the January through July period, a rise of 31.12 per cent compared to the same time last year.

In July Shenzhen handled 1.16 million TEU, which is the fifth month this year that the port recorded a monthly container throughput of more than 1 million TEU.

Other ports also reported increases during the seven-month period: Yantian 3.3 million TEU, up 20 per cent; Chiwan 1.39 million TEU, up 63.33 per cent; and Shekou 1.18 million TEU, up 54.2 per cent.