Weakening in the global economies this year will slow down investment in China's ports and the earnings growth of port operators and shipping companies, a senior official from a Chinese government think tank said.
"The container shipping industry will likely be the hardest hit by a slowdown in the global economy," said Wang Ming, deputy director of the Institute of Comprehensive Transportation, a think tank under the National Development and Reform Commission.
The NDRC is Beijing's top economic planning agency.
Wang said he expects China's economic growth to slow to 10.8 percent this year from 11.4 percent in 2007 as Beijing steps up its macro-economic controls and monetary policy tightening.
"The government's eight percent GDP target for this year is relatively conservative," he said.
Beijing has set its official annual economic growth target at a modest eight percent in the past few years, a rate that has been consistently surpassed.
Wang said uncertainties resulting from the unfolding US subprime crisis and a slowdown in Chinese exports will likely worsen the overcapacity problems in certain industries in China.
But the dry and bulk cargo industry will likely be shielded by China's demand for commodities such as coal and iron ore, which is expected to remain strong, Wang said.
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