Guangdong will devise new plan for Pearl River Delta port development

GUANGDONG deputy governor Xu Shaohua has disclosed that the province will devise a new plan for the future development of the Pearl River Delta ports.

The province will specify the orientation, function, investment subject and operation model of each port in the plan, according to Xinhua.

Mr Xu also noted that the government will let the market principle lead the way during the process of integration of port sources with less state inference.

Pearl River Delta manufacturing city of Dongguan proposes that the Guangdong government upgrade its river port Humen to a provincial development zone and support the port's application to set up bonded port area. The proposal has received Mr Xu's approval.

Mainly operating domestic trade and near sea shipping lanes, Humen has a network 18 domestic lines cover major domestic ports. Its throughput hit 400,000 TEU in the first half of this year and is estimated to surpass one million TEU by year end.

Humen has enjoyed rapid growth in the last 12 months, posting 2,795 per cent increase in its year on year box volume to 362,000 TEU in the first six months after using its four container berths, according to Xinhua's report.

Meanwhile, Dongguan Bonded Logistics Centre at Humen port, handled 32,166 batches of trade cargo, up 296 per cent year on year. Value of this cargo surged 357 per cent to $1.69 billion.