China takes multiple measures to ease container shortage

BEIJING - The container shortage that recently beset China has gradually eased amid multiple measures taken by government organs and businesses to boost supply and ensure the smooth flow of goods, official data showed.

Cargo throughput at China's ports totaled 12.87 billion tons in the first 10 months, up 7.8 percent year-on-year. During the period, container throughput reached 235 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), expanding by 8.4 percent from a year earlier.

Under coordinated government actions led by the Ministry of Transport, China's State-owned shipping giant COSCO shipped 13,469 empty containers back to domestic ports in March, quenching the country's container thirst.

The supply of new containers has also been boosted by container manufacturers accelerating production. In September, the monthly container production capacity in China surged from 200,000 TEUs to a record high of 500,000 TEUs, with the inventory of new containers made by major manufacturers exceeding 400,000 TEUs, official data showed.

The smooth flow of cargo powered by the digital transformation of China's ports also helped ease container shortages. Data showed China now has 10 automated container terminals and seven others are under construction, both figures ranking first in the world.

China's total imports and exports expanded 22.2 percent year-on-year to 31.67 trillion yuan ($4.97 trillion) in the first 10 months, with exports surging 22.5 percent, customs data showed.