Throughput at Dalian port in Liaoning province between January and August 2009 increased 12 per cent year-on-year, according to operator Dalian Port (PDA) Co. However, container volumes stayed flat over the eight-month period.

The company said container and general cargo volumes have improved over the course of this year, and that it is proceeding with several infrastructure-related projects, especially in the areas of iron ore and oil handling.

Shanghai, China’s largest port, recorded an August container throughput of 2.19m teu, the highest monthly total of the year so far. This represented an increase of 2 per cent over the previous month, but down 14.4 per cent over the same month last year.

The performance of the southern port of Shenzhen has also been a source of encouragement for the battered shipping sector. Container throughput at the port grew to 1.8m teu in August, an increase of 19 per cent from July, according to a JP Morgan report quoted by South China Morning Post. Average daily throughput was 59,000 teu, higher than the 47,000 teu from May to July and 44,000 teu in March and April, the report added. However, it should be noted that August is a traditionally busy month for Shenzhen and other Chinese coastal ports, with many containers holding products destined for US and European shops this Christmas.