"It would be more difficult in the second half than in the first," said Qingdao Port (Group) chairman Chang Dechuan.
"Port and shipping enterprises need to be well prepared as the global economic downturn would mire the import and export in the next two to three years, and the situation is compounded by uncertainties in the domestic economy," said Mr Chang on the fringes of an enterprise forum in Changchun, the capital of northeastern Jilin province.
Profit growth for port enterprises has dwindled, judging from the performance of listed companies, while shipping enterprises have suffered great losses due to global over-capacity.