Ningbo Zhoushan Port handles 887.09 million metric tons of cargo from January to September, up 4.9 percent year-on-year. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Ningbo Zhoushan Port, the world's largest port in terms of throughput volume for the past 11 years, handled 887.09 million metric tons of cargo from January to September, up 4.9 percent year-on-year, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Transport.

It handled 21.36 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) over the nine-month period, edging up 0.5 percent over last year.

In September, the port's cargo throughput rose 10 percent, while its container throughput grew 13.8 percent.

This is largely due to the port operator's efforts to restore its logistics system and the global industrial chain.

The port has strengthened cooperation with international mining enterprises including Vale. The Brazilian mining company inaugurated an iron ore grinding facility at the port in late August.

It has also seen closer ties with container shipping companies. By the end of September, it had opened a total of 111 ocean routes, accounting for 44.4 percent of its total shipping routes. 

In addition, the port has stepped up efforts to develop an integrated sea-rail transportation system. Goods are offloaded onto trains in Ningbo and then transported overseas by sea, and vice versa.

At the end of September, Ningbo Zhoushan Port had launched 17 freight trains to 56 cities across the nation.