Throughput 2013: 15,300,000 teu – up 5.18 per cent on 2012 (14,547,000 teu)

According to reports from China, Guangzhou Port Group, the port authority and major terminal operator in the southern port of Guangzhou, is looking to diversify into the logistics business as a way of capturing more cargo, with the development of barge and haulage hinterland transport operations.

A further boost to the port’s inland connectivity will take place in 2017 when a rail line linking into the country’s main network is due to be completed. This is important because the main growth driver of the port’s volumes has been its location at the heart of the Pearl River Delta manufacturing powerhouse. Recent years have, however, seen scores of factories depart the region in search of cheaper land, labour and administrative costs in the Chinese interior. To maintain its competitive edge, Guangzhou needs to follow the exporters.

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The world's top 10 container ports

Shanghai container port

The Chinese behemoth gateway of Shanghai maintained its position as the world’s busiest container port. Container and Shipping Trade looks at the biggest 10 container ports and compares 2013 throughput with 2012.