Shanghai Port recorded a slight drop in foreign trade, a steady growth in container shipping, and an upsurge in inbound and outbound travelers last year, officials said yesterday.

Shanghai's imports and exports totaled 6.78 trillion yuan (US$1.04 trillion) in 2015, down 3.3 percent from 2014 but slower than the national average of 7 percent, the port officials said.

The city's share in the country's total foreign trade gained 1.1 percent points to 27.6 percent.

Container throughput increased 4.3 percent; air cargo volume grew 2.1 percent, the officials said. Shanghai Port exported 2.6 trillion yuan worth of machinery and imported 1 trillion yuan worth of high-tech products.

Shanghai airports handled more than 30 million passengers last year, the largest number for 17 years running.

Last year, 688 holiday cruises docked at and departed from Shanghai Port, up 26.9 percent from 2014. The city has become the largest home port for cruises in Asia, handling 1.64 million passengers a year.

Shanghai Port also reported 9.95 million foreigners entering and leaving China in 2015, up 0.6 percent from 2014.

Shanghai worked hard to simplify approval procedures for trading companies and improve customs services for importers, exporters and travelers, the officials said.

Source: Shanghai FTZ.gov.cn