Li Jianhong News

While China’s ports continue to face growth pressure, the country’s largest port operator is reaping the rewards of years of investments in overseas projects. China Merchants Holdings (International) reported first-half net profit rose 29 per cent to HK$2.78 billion  ($US 361 million)  from a year ago, after throughput gains at Chinese terminals exceeded China’s overall container growth rate and traffic through overseas facilities rose at a double-digit clip. The profit is driven by steady growth from ports and contributions from overseas greenfield projects. Chairman Li Jianhong said he expected the growth of mainland operations to slow, but noted an overall growth in the second half can be sustained.

Construction of a Chinese-funded port and special economic zone in Tanzania worth at least $10 billion will start in July 2015, the president's office said in a statement on Monday, for the first time setting a start date for the delayed initiative. Tanzania aims to build a huge port at Bagamoyo, 75 km (47 miles) north of commercial capital Dar es Salaam, the site of the country's main port, where shippers complain of congestion and inefficiencies. A construction agreement for the port and associated zone was signed on Sunday and follows a framework deal signed last year. An official said a start date for building work had taken time to set because of other negotiations about infrastructure to link the port to national transport networks.

The newly-opened $500 million Chinese-built Colombo terminal is situated about mid-way on the important East/West shipping route and is claimed to have facilities on a par with Singapore and Dubai. The Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT), which is 85 per cent owned by the state-run China Merchant Holdings International, is designed to handle mega ships -- a first for Sri Lanka which is aiming to become the region's shipping hub. His Excellency, Mahinda Rajapakse, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Mr.

China Merchants Holdings (International) Company recently held its AGM in Hong Kong and the Vice-Chairman predicted figures in the company's container terminal operation interests. The Company's Vice Chairman Li Jianhong, Managing Director Hu Jianhua, Deputy Managing Director Zheng Shaoping and Deputy General Manager & CFO Zhang Rizhong were interviewed by journalists after the AGM. Mr. Li Jianhong said: "This year from January to May, the company's container throughput growth is higher in north than south. The Mainland China and overseas overall growth is 9.2%.