An aerial view of the Yantai port in the Zhifu district. [Photo/jiaodong.net]

The annual cargo throughput hit 401 million tons in 2017 at Yantai port in East China's Shandong province, ranking ninth in the country, according to the Yantai Port and Shipping Administration Bureau.

Its handling capacity surpassed 2.7 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2017, ranking tenth nationwide.

So far, the port has already achieved its development goals during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), marking a step closer to becoming an international port.

The achievements attribute to the city's efforts in upgrading port infrastructure, and improving operating abilities. Since the start of the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-15), Yantai has invested 12 billion yuan in the construction and development of the port. So far, there are production berths in operation in the port, of which 34 boasts handling capacity of more than 10,000 tons.

A berth for dealing with minerals at the western area of the Yantai port. [Photo/jiaodong.net]

Container handling area at the Yantai port. [Photo/jiaodong.net]