Container throughput of Shanghai's is expected to grow 10 per cent a year until 2010, a recent China Ports Future Forum was told.
China Daily said growth was attributed to the booming economy along the Yangtze and preparations for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
Xu Peixin, director general of the city port administration, said Shanghai is at a critical point in its development and "high value-added port services will be the key focus.
Last year, container throughput at the port rose to 560 million tons, up 4.2 per cent on 2006. Shanghai's cargo shipments also increased by 26.1 million TEU, surpassing Hong Kong as the world's second-largest container seaport after Singapore.
Mr Xu expects a more diversified investment strategy to enhance Shanghai's competitive edge in years to come. But he also saw a shortage of large deep-water berth and competent coastal pilots.
Wang Ming, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission, said the shortage of land and energy faced by major coastal areas of eastern China will also hinder the development of the harbour industries.
Ken Loh, president of Asian operations for container handling equipment maker Kalmar Industries, said construction had started on the second phase of its US$20-million Lingang plant in Shanghai.
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