Container throughput at Taiwan’s seven international commercial ports rose 5.4 percent in 2011 to 13.42 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU), according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Feb. 20.
The figure is a record high since direct shipments between Taiwan and mainland China began in 2008. It also outpaced growth for Hong Kong and Singapore, which registered expansion of 3 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively, according to the MOTC.
By weight, Taiwan’s seven international ports, led by Kaohsiung, Keelung, Taichung and Taipei, processed 679 million revenue tons of cargo, up 3.6 percent year on year.
The MOTC said Taipei Port saw the fastest growth, at 50.3 percent, as its comparatively small capacity is expanding to support neighboring Keelung Harbor; Taichung Port also notched up a 2-percent increase to reach 1.38 million TEU.
Cargo handled at Kaohsiung Harbor jumped 5 percent to 9.64 million TEU. The MOTC said a deep water container terminal launched early last year helped add another 1 million TEU capacity to the world’s 12th largest container port.
In related news, 660,000 passengers arrived at and departed from the seven international ports last year, down 0.7 percent from 2010 but still the second highest figure for the past three decades, the MOTC said.
Officials from the MOTC said deepened trade and tourism links across the Taiwan Strait are likely to give a lift to harbor business in the coming years. (THN)
Write to Aaron Hsu at pj1210meister@mail.gio.gov.tw