The Port of Dalian saw its container throughput grow 2.9 per cent year on year to 1.38 million TEU in the first two months of the year, reports Xinhua.
Overall tonnage of the cargo handled by the port in the period increased 3.4 per cent to 70.85 million tonnes. But compared to the four per cent increase in the same period last year, growth has been slowing.
Dalian University of Technology Research's Institute of Coastal and Offshore Engineering director Guo Zijian said port and shipping development has reached a time of "deceleration and upgrading" and needs to cut logistics costs.
Mr Guo said Dalian government should encourage and guide its port and shipping enterprises to expand the transportation of domestic and foreign trade category of goods such as oils, iron ore, ro-ro shipments and grain. Meanwhile it should look for new supply of goods by taking full advantage of its shipping centre, logistics centre and financial centre.