Cargo throughput jumps nearly 17% in first 10 months

By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio

The cargo throughput of Yichang's ports in the first 10 months of this year grew 16.6 percent from where it was a year ago, reaching an impressive 115 million tonnes. The container throughput reached the equivalent of 167,800 twenty-foot units, up 24.5 percent year on year, as announced by the local transportation authority. The city’s foreign trade throughput totaled 380,000 tonnes.

Over 3.05 million people travelled via water, more than 220 percent higher than last year.

Located in the southwest corner of Hubei province, Yichang lies at the junction of the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It has long been known as the "Gateway to the Three Gorges" and is an important transportation hub between Sichuan and Hubei provinces.

The cargo consisted of mainly bulk commodities, with building materials taking up the lion’s share, accounting for nearly 40 percent. Other types of cargo included coal and coal products, phosphate ore, and chemical raw materials and products. Goods exported fell into categories like chemicals, light industrial products, pharmaceutical products, fertilizers, pesticides and building materials.

At present, Yichang has six port zones in its urban area, Zigui, Zhijiang, Yidu, Changyang and Xingshan, which provide a total of 205 berths. Among them, 174 are for cargo and 31 for passenger.

Yichang is upgrading three ports - Baiyang Port, Maoping Port and Taipingxi Port - around the Three Gorges Dam to accelerate future growth.

Yichang's transformation into a modern port began with the opening of its commercial port in 1876. As shipping activities expanded, so did the port. Now, Yichang is a major inland port in China and an important comprehensive transportation hub in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River.