APM to invest in Chongqing

- APM Terminals is aiming to invest in new port facilities in China's provincial capital of Chongqing to develop a key inland harbour on the Yangtze Rive. Peder Sondergaard, APM’s Senior VP and Head of New Terminals will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state-owned Chongqing Port & Logistics Group (CPLG) during a promotional visit to Chongqing in May 2010.

As it is an MoU APM Terminals will not be investing any money at the moment, although the intended partner CPLG, already has an existing and well run operation in the Port. Exact details of the MOU have not been disclosed.

The Chongqing metropolitan area has a population of over 31m, which makes it the largest city in China and the surrounding hinterland has approximately another 170m people, which means that 15% of China's total population is served by this city. Chongqing is connected by three rivers (Yangtze, Jialing and Wujiang) to neighbouring provinces and is the third largest automobile centre in China.

The Port of Chongqing is the last inland river port on the Yangtze servicing Shanghai and abroad and it comprises 114 berths on 16 piers with a yard area of 35 ha.

The current maximum size for vessels calling at Chongqing is no more than 10,000 dwt (5,000 dwt in the dry season), with typical container vessels being 105 m long with a capacity of 330 teu.

Source: Container Management