Shanghai will Overtake Rotterdam as World's Largest Port

Published Nov 8, 2004 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

China's exports rose 36 percent to $360.6 billion in the first eight months of this year. Imports increased 41 percent to $361.5 billion. China's share of world trade has risen to about 7 percent, about triple that of ten years ago. Shanghai's container business rose about 25 percent this year to an equivalent of about 14.5 million 20-foot containers (TEUs). The port will handle about 350 million tons of cargo this year. Rotterdam is expected to handle 350 million tons, and its container volume may reach 8 million TEUs this year.