The handling capacity of China’s ports is expected to hit 8 billion tons and 170 million TEUs in 2010, according to information from the on-going China Ports and Terminals Summit held in north China’s Tianjin Municipality.

China’s ports cargo handling capacity totaled 5.6 billion tons and 93 million TEUs in 2006, both the biggest in the world for four consecutive years, said Qian Yongchang, head of the China Communication and Transportation Association, at the summit on Tuesday.

Xinhua reported that last year, China had 12 ports with throughput capacities exceeding 100 million tons.

Qian said China has been investing heavily in port construction as the national economy sores and foreign trade increases steadily.

In 2006, more than 160 construction projects kicked off on China’s seaports, involving 60 billion yuan, up 30 percent year-on-year.

The priority of the investment in port construction will be put on expanding capacity and improving comprehensive services, Qian said.

In line with those priorities, the Tianjin Port Group is set to build three more container berths at Beiganchi port at a cost of 3 million yuan according to the South China Morning Post. Tianjin port, the mainland’s sixth largest by throughput, handled 2.15 million TEUs in the first four months of 2007. The Post’s Charlotte So, in Tianjin for the conference, reports:

“We are negotiating with French shipping lines CMA CGM and [Taiwan's] Evergreen Marine,” said deputy director Hao Yunhui.

Construction of the berths would start at the end of next year, Mr. Hao said, adding the group would hold 60 per cent of the project.

Tianjin Port earmarked 36.7 billion yuan to expand the port and upgrade supporting facilities by 2010, when throughput capability would nearly double to 12 million TEUs.