Bloomberg quoted China Merchants Holdings Co the owner of stakes in ports that move a third of the country said cargo containers volumes this year may beat 2008 record.

Mr Liu Yunshu deputy managing director said “We hope we can surpass it.” Mr Hu Jianhua Deputy Managing Director said shipments at its mainland ports rose 22% in the first four months.

Ms Cynthia Wong Deputy General Manager said China Merchants reiterated its forecast for container volume to grow between 10% and 15% in 2010 as global trade rebounds. An increase of 15% would surpass the 50.6 million twenty foot container boxes shipped by the company in 2008.

Group container volume decreased 13% in 2009 to 43.9 million boxes as rising unemployment meant US and European consumers pared purchases of Asian made goods.

The number of twenty foot equivalent units moving through the company ports in China including Shanghai, Shenzhen and Tianjin, dropped 13% to 38.1 million boxes.

(Sourced from Bloomberg)