Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 12, 2004
Qingdao listed as 2nd largest trade port in mainland
The volume of imports and exports in 2003 handled at the port of Qingdao, Shandong Province, exceeded 102 million tons, making Qingdao the second largest port in Chinese mainland in handing foreign trade following Shanghai.
The volume of imports and exports in 2003 handled at the port of Qingdao, Shandong Province, exceeded 102 million tons, making Qingdao the second largest port in Chinese mainland in handing foreign trade following Shanghai.
Qingdao takes the second place formerly held by Tianjin in north China, and Shanghai and Qingdao are now the only two ports in China conducting more than 100 million tons of foreign trade a year.
In 2003, Qingdao handled 4.23 million TEUs (twenty equivalent units), up 24 percent year-on-year and accommodated 11,866 vessels on international voyages, up 16.8 percent.
Imports and exports through Qingdao were valued at 40.8 billion US dollars in total in 2003, up 28.8 percent year-on-year.
The smooth flow of cargoes and passengers in Qingdao results from local efforts in increasing customs working efficiency, and facelift and expansion of local harbors, airport and their logistics bases.