China box volume to fall 7pc in 09 despite September uptick

CHINA`s major seaports are expected to suffer a seven per cent decline in container volume this year to 120 million TEU, according to Ministry of Transport estimates.
The prediction comes after the nation`s box throughput decreased by 7.8 per cent in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period last year to 88.97 million TEU, reports Reuters.
But the ministry website said China`s container throughput at its major ports rose by 0.3 per cent in September, representing the first year-on-year increase in 2009, the report said.
The ministry also expects a four per cent increase for the whole of this year`s cargo imports and exports through China`s ports, up from a 4.2 per cent decrease in the first nine months of 2009.