China box throughput down 17 percent in February
16 Mar 2009
Source:Cargo News Asia

China's port container handling volume recorded a year-on-year decline in February, expanding the drop in January as the financial crisis continues to hurt the country's exports.

The volume of containers handled by ports nationwide totalled 6.97 million TEUs in February, down 17 percent compared with the same month of 2008, Xinhua reported.

The figure was also down 22.5 percent from January, which saw 8.99 million TEUs, down 13.3 percent year-on-year and 12 percent from December of 2008.

A report released by China International Capital Corporation showed that recovery was not yet in sight, as overseas demand would shrink further. It said the decline in February widened in spite of three more working days compared with the same month of 2008.

China's export volume decreased 17.5 percent year on year to US$90.45 billion in January.