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Shanghai
port says that as the river-sea intermodal
service grows, the cost-savings help everyone
along the supply chain weather the current
economic downturn. Thus, its waterway container
transshipments are expected to continue
to enjoy steady growth in the second half.
Mega
ships are the major contributor to Shanghai's
river-sea intermodal container transshipments,
says Xinhua. Of course, worries persist
that in the long-term, overcapacity and
slowing trade may yet hinder the growth
of the port's waterway container transshipments.
Experts
suggest that Shanghai should make better
use of the Yangtze River network to cover
ports along the rivers and expand its hinterland
to southwestern China like Sichuan and Yunnan
provinces, while expanding its international
shipping service network to cover western
and northern Europe, Mediterranean, Persian
Gulf, Africa, the US west coast and South
America.
Despite
such legitimate concerns, waterway container
transshipments are predicted to increase
because Shanghai's advantage in port facilities
is growing. Study shows that a terminal
needs to have a water depth of at least
15 metres so that it can berth a ship of
12,500 TEU. The Yangshan terminal depth
has reached 15.5 metres and will continue
to be deepened to 16 metres.
Indicative
of the progress are readings of the port
operator prosperity index and port operator
confidence index, which were clearly in
positive territory in the second quarter
since the third quarter of last year.
Port
operator prosperity index increased to 105.16
points, and port operator confidence index
rose to 105.56 points. Both were above the
critical level of 100 points. The port operator
confidence index is expected to grow even
higher to 115.83 points in the third quarter.
On
the negative side, Sino-European bilateral
trade value fell 3.1 per cent to US$259.21
billion in the first half of year. Shrinking
European trade will affect Shanghai's transshipment
volume in the long term.
The
big hope is that growing domestic trade
will pick up the slack and bring fresh opportunities
to Shanghai. Experts suggest Shanghai should
focus more on domestic trade so as to offset
the loss of cargo caused by slowing down
international trade.
In
any case, long focus on infrastructure development
appears to be bearing fruits, bringing work
to where most people live and providing
the means to transport their output in the
way that keeps them competitive.
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