Statistics from the Nantong MSA show that 2,319 international vessels arrived and departed Nantong port in the first five months of 2010. They accounted for 14.5m tons of foreign trade-related cargo throughput, up 4.8 per cent over the same period last year. The main cargoes involved were metal ores, coal and coal products, and chemicals.

Currently, Nantong has 32 open terminals with 44 berths, plus six terminals with a temporary licence to accept foreign vessels.