CONTAINER throughput at Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT), largely shut for four weeks following a Covid-19 outbreak late May, nonetheless led the growth in first-half throughput reported by Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (HPHT).
The Singapore-listed port operator handled total first-half volume of 11.6 million TEU at its terminals in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, up 13 per cent compared to the first six months of 2020 and 4 perc cent from pre-pandemic 2019, reports IHS Media.
The bulk of that annual throughput comes from HPHT's 20-berth complex at YICT in Shenzhen, which handled 6.6 million TEU, an increase of 6 per cent compared to first half 2019. The combined throughput of Hong Kong's HIT, Cosco-HIT, and ACT terminals rose 1 per cent versus 2019 to 5 million TEU.
"The increase in cargo volume occurred in an environment where global supply chains were severely disrupted and a partial shutdown of YICT in late May-early June to deal with several Covid-19 infections of stevedores," HPHT said in an earnings statement.
The port operator attributed gains in YICT throughput in the first six months of 2021 to an increase in the US, Europe, and transshipment volumes, while the growth in throughput for HPHT's Hong Kong terminals was mainly due to an increase in transshipment.
Outbound cargo from HPHT's South China and Hong Kong terminals to the US and Europe grew 33 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively, although the port operator did not give the actual volume.
After the late-May Covid-19 outbreak, YICT's container handling ability was drastically reduced, and full operations only resumed June 23.
Yantian is one of the busiest terminals in the world and a massive backlog of boxes quickly stacked up during four weeks of severe congestion. US and European supply chains are still feeling the impact as containers are flushed out on top of growing peak-season demand.
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