An aerial view of Guangzhou Port. [Photo/chinanews.com]

The handing capacity of cargo and containers at Guangzhou Port from January to September achieved positive year-on-year growth, Guangzhou Port Group announced on Oct 20.

The cargo handling capacity at the port during the first three quarters of the year amounted to 395.58 million metric tons, increasing by 1.9 percent year-on-year, while the handling capacity of containers at the port climbed by 1.5 percent to 15.83 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has greatly impacted the global economy, leading to the decrease of international trade volume and shipping demands. However, Guangzhou Port has still sought new development opportunities, opening 17 new foreign trade liner shipping routes that are mainly heading to Asia destinations.

At present, Guangzhou Port has opened a total of 120 foreign trade shipping routes, as well as 11 sea-rail intermodal train routes.

The handling capacity of traditional cargo, such as mineral, steel, grain, and petroleum chemicals, has seen growth against the trend in the first nine months of the year. For example, the handling capacity of grain grew by 24.4 percent year-on-year, while the handling capacity for petroleum chemicals increased by 7 percent.