In the first half of this year, Shandong Port Group (SPG) witnessed a year-on-year increase of 7.7 percent and 11.4 percent in its cargo throughput and container volume respectively.

During the same period, its sea-rail combined transportation capacity increased over 15 percent year-on-year, while crude oil volume and coal volume rose 12.5 percent and 19 percent year-on-year respectively.

Meanwhile, the cargo throughput and container volume of Qingdao Port, a port subsidiary of SPG, grew by 5.4 percent and 11.6 percent year-on-year respectively. A total of 192 records related to production matters were also broken by the port during this period.

SPG also experienced a year-on-year growth of 45.6 percent in commercial vehicle volume. As a transit hub port for commercial vehicles in northern China, the vehicle terminal at Yantai Port was abuzz with ro-ro shipping activity in the first six months of this year.

Besides being the leading player in the nation in terms of traditional port handling, SPG also posted good performance in its emerging business. Of its 13 business segments, the SPG Equipment Manufacturing Group expanded its footprint in Russia, Indonesia, Austria and other overseas markets, garnering international orders worth over $22 million. The newly established SPG Port Services Development Group generated a revenue of over 90 million yuan ($12.6 million) in the overseas market within only three months.

In H1, SPG held several ceremonies to mark the operation and start of port-industry-city integration projects in Qingdao, Yantai, Rizhao, Binzhou and Weifang. The company completed the construction of 53 projects with a combined investment of 35 billion yuan, and announced the inauguration of 94 projects with a combined investment of 101.1 billion yuan, setting new records in terms of the number of projects and investment volume.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. SPG has proactively expanded its footprint overseas and made solid progress in boosting its overseas layout. Delegations led by the top executives of SPG visited 19 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. The company also unveiled the nameplates of its Southeast Asia office, European office and Kazakhstan office, and organized six promotional meetings, which were attended by over 120 local government agencies, associations, logistics and trading companies. All these efforts have driven the internationalization of SPG. 

In the first half of this year, SPG witnesses a year-on-year increase of 7.7 percent and 11.4 percent in its cargo throughput and container volume respectively. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]