According to a China Ports Future Forum, the container throughput of Shanghai’s seaport is expected to see steady annual growth of about 10% until 2010, which is attributable to the booming economy in the Yangtze River Delta and preparations for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

Last year, container throughput at the port rose to 560 million tons, up by 4.2% compared with 2006 and the city’s cargo shipments increased by 26.15 million TEUs, overtaking Hong Kong as the world’s second-largest container seaport after Singapore.

Although China’s port industry still faces challenges, such as the shortage of large deep-water berths and land and energy as well as insufficient number of professional port pilots, container handling equipment supplier Kalmar Industries foresees plenty potential in China’s port facilities market. Ken Loh, president of its Asian operations, said construction has begun on the second phase of its Lingang plant in Shanghai. The $20-million facility will boost production capacity and help the firm to maintain its position as a market leader on the mainland.

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China Business, Shanghai Port