SIMIC

With the resumption of work and production, the cargo throughput started to recover from February, and dropped 2.1% year-on-year in the first six months.

Crude oil imports in the first half were 270m tons, an increase of 9.9% year-on-year. Crude oil shipments at coastal ports maintained growth and posted an increase of 7.5%.

Related: Container volume at major Chinese ports up 3.4% in early July

Iron ore import volume was 550m tons in H1, an increase of 5.5% comparing to the same period of last year. The ore throughput at major ports increased 8.9%.

Shipping business along Yangtze river suffered a bigger loss in H1 due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. Cargo throughput at hub ports along Yangtze river declined 6.6% year-on-year while the container volume dropped 14.9%.

China Ports and Harbours Association forecasted a weak recovery of container business in the second half of this year. The annual container volume is expected to decline 5% for 2020.