Miracle on the Pearl: Dongguan's Port of Humen box volume surges 526pc

THE harbour serving Guangdong province's manufacturing base of Dongguan, the Port of Humen, enjoyed container volume surge of 526 per cent year on year to more then a million TEU in 2012, which resulted in a 446 per cent revenue increase for the Humen Port Group.

Xinhua also reported that Humen considers it a "miracle" that a port with only a three-year history in containers achieved a volume of a million TEU. Officials have also marked the port for fast-track development with new infrastructure and facilities to receive priority upgrading.

In 2012, there are more than 200 importers and exporters newly established at the Humen port, while the existing ones saw steady growth in their businesses. The major customers of the port said using Humen is cost effective and that CNY600 (US$96.3) to CNY1,000 can be saved per TEU compared to using other neighbouring terminals.

The Dongguan government will soon set up a fund to market the port. Container cargo shipped via the Xidatan operation area in Humen's Shatian port area and carriers that launch new shipping lines at the port will receive subsidies, said the report.