Shanghai upswing

摘要

Shanghai is tipped to become the world's largest container port at the end of 2008. Rebecca Moore reports on how developments in the Yangtze river corridor and the port's own drive to attract more transhipment cargo will propel it in this direction. The growth in Shanghai's container traffic has been breathtaking over the past few years and it is now firmly established as the largest maritime gateway in China and the second largest box port in the world. In 2007, it was just pipped to the premier post by Singapore, which recorded a throughput of 27.9 million TEU. Shanghai handled 26.2 million TEU. This year, however, it should attain top slot. A major factor in Shanghai's rise to the top of the league has been its position at the head of the Yangtze river corridor. This connects the east coast of China with the western interior of the country and with the considerable efforts being made to open up the interior, further cargo boosts are coming Shanghai's way.