The foreign trade handling capacity of Shanghai Port in 2004 reached 158 million tons, 22.1 percent higher than in 2003, said sources with the Shanghai Port Administration Tuesday.

Of the total foreign trade volume handled at Shanghai Port, export trade volume increased by 25.8 percent compared with that of 2003.

The Shanghai Port, one of the biggest ports in East China, exported mainly to the US and Europe.

In 2004, export trade handled at Shanghai Port on the US route was as much as 11.8 million tons, 35.2 percent higher than that of2003. Trade on the European route reached 10.6 million tons, 19.1 percent higher than 2003.

Among all the trade volume handled at the Shanghai Port in 2004,the container trade volume reached 14.55 million standard containers, a rise of 29 percent over 2003.

The Shanghai Port saw 33 international container sea routes newly open in 2004 including 21 ocean routes to Europe, North America, Middle East and Australia.

So far, the Shanghai Port has forged its business relations with more than 500 ports and harbors in more than 200 countries around the world. It has attracted more than 60 shipping companiesboth from home and overseas to join in its shipping business with an average of 1,716 regular ships departing each month including 827 from overseas.

Source: Xinhua