The Port of Tianjin's January container throughput increased by a substantial 29.8 per cent year on year to 555,000 TEU. Overall it moved a total of 24.26 million tons of cargo, Xinhua reported.

At present, the port handles more than 700,000 tons every day. It has a vessel rate of 300 moves per hour at the highest and an average crane rate of 36 moves per hour.

The report said the port will be served by more liner services, especially feeder lines. The port is also going to build more facilities to enhance efficiency. By 2010, Tianjin will also invest about CNY36 billion (US$4.6 billion) on port expansion projects.

The port handled 5.9 million TEU of containers and 255 million tons of cargoes during 2006.