Chinese ports, including Yangshan deepwater terminal in Shanghai, are struggling with overcapacity because global demand has not kept pace with capacity expansion, said Su Xingang, vice-president of port operator China Merchants International and reported by GCTL.

The country’s port capacity is as much as 40 per cent greater than current demand, said Mr Su at a recent conference, meaning that there are many idle facilities at small and medium-sized ports.

“Even if no new ports were built in China, it could take more than three years for demand to catch up with capacity at 'well-operated' ports and as much as five years for others,” he added.