ASIA

Clarksons lifts the lid on China’s throughput

10 years ago

China’s economic growth has slowed in recent years, contributing to softer box throughput growth at mainland Chinese ports. But there has been a significant difference in trends in throughput between the country’s large and small container ports, according to Clarksons.

Clarksons has revealed that growth in lifts at mainland Chinese ports has eased from 8.5% annually on average in 2011 to 2014, to 4.5% in 2015, reflecting slower growth in Chinese exports, with box throughput growth slowing further to 3.7% year-on-year in the first ten months of 2016.

However, trends have differed between the largest and smaller ports, it said.

Growth in lifts at China’s top three mainland container ports has eased from 5% annually on average in 2011 to 2014, to 3.9% in 2015 and 0.5% in the first ten months of 2016, mostly due to greater competition from other ports in the Pearl River Delta and the relocation of manufacturing from the region to inner provinces.

While box lifts at China’s ‘second tier’ ports rose on average by 9.8% annually in 2011 to 2014, outpacing that at the top three ports. This reflects both the diversification in manufacturing locations and rapid upsizing in the boxship sector, Clarksons said.

Clarksons added that operators have deployed newly delivered large ships at more-established ports, which appears to have led to the deployment of other vessels at second tier ports.

Meanwhile, total throughput at Chinese ports outside of the top ten has continued to rise firmly, growing 13% annually in 2011 to 2014 and 9.3% in 2015, revealed Clarksons. The number of Chinese ports with lifts above 2m teu has also risen from 10 to 18 in 2009 and 2015 respectively.

Lifts at ports outside of China’s top ten have been supported by ongoing infrastructure development and greater competition between ports, it said. Further, some operators have now begun direct services from inland river ports.

Clarksons concluded that the share of Chinese box throughput accounted for by the top three ports has come under pressure in recent years, with the smaller ports representing the fastest growing element of China’s total container lifts.

Although Asian container trade now appears to be picking up the pace again, Clarksons predicted that the contrast between trends in China’s large and smaller ports might continue for a while yet.