CHINA's Tianjin port handled a record 56.66 million tons of cargo in the first quarter of this year, making it the third busiest port on the mainland in terms of cargo throughput, Xinhua reported.

The news organisation said that in the first three months of the year, throughput at the container facility amounted to 1.02 million TEU, 70 per cent of which was made up of import and export materials destined for western parts of China.

The report said that Tianjin port authorities have set up customs check points in western provinces, including Hebei and Xinjiang, in an effort to attract more hinterland cargo.

Meanwhile, the Dalian Port Group also recorded a strong performance in the first quarter, with cargo volumes in Dalian rising 42.2 per cent to hit 19.59 million tons in March.

During the same month, container throughput increased 16.4 per cent to amount to 199,000 TEU, according to figures released by city's port authorities.

In the first quarter of 2005, Dalian port saw its cargo volumes rise 30.6 per cent to 29.95 million tons and its container throughput surge 21.5 per cent to 559,000 TEU year-on-year.