Cargo throughput at Zhanjiang port hit a record high of 100 million tons, as a batch of iron ore was discharged at the No 300 berth on Dec 22.

In recent years, new benchmarks have been repeatedly set in the port's productivity. From January to November, the throughput of coal, petroleum and containers registered a year-on-year increase of 16.5, 3.5 and 26.5 percent respectively.

Meanwhile, the time that crude oil, iron ore, coal ships have to take while waiting a berth have decreased 39.7, 50.6 and 58.8 percent respectively. In a newly launched boutique shipping route, the waiting time has been reduced to 0.7 hours.

Zhanjiang port also expanded its business capacity as a way to improve its services. By handling 7.63 million tons of mixed ore, iron ore and coal in 2017, it takes another step forward in becoming an iron ore distribution and trade center in South China.

Under the concept of "Bonded Plus", Zhanjiang port has broadened out its business, which ranges from simple processing to entrepot trade and bonded warehousing. In 2017, the port has processed 2.8 million tons of bonded iron ore.

The port opened seven extra container shipping routes in this year. Currently, 35 routes are available to connect with major ports around the country. It is estimated that 900,000 sea containers will be processed this year, up 24.5 percent year-on-year.

Moreover, four rail-sea combined transport routes have been added to link Zhanjiang with Southwest China, bringing the port's total to eight. A total of 17,000 containers are expected to be transported through rail-sea combined transport routes in 2017.