Trading at Free-Trade Harbor Zones Hits New High

Taipei, Feb. 20, 2012 (CENS)--Trading volume of Taiwan's five free-trade harbor zones topped 4.076 million metric tons, up 21.4%, in 2011, and trading value rose 7% to NT$302.6 billion, with both figures being record highs, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC).

The MOTC pointed out that the transformation of the harbor organization from March 1 will further strengthen the features and economic benefits of the free-trade harbor zones, facilitating their in-depth processing of high value-added commodities for re-export. It predicted that the trading volume and value of free-trade harbor zones will continue hitting new highs this year.

Trading volume and value of Keelung Harbor soared two times and 1.7 times, respectively, representing the highest growth rates among the free-trade harbor zones, thanks mainly to the high growth for base metals and electric-machinery equipment.

Thanks to brisk trade for oil products and auto logistics, Taipei Harbor saw its trade volume jump 1.5 times and trade value 75.1%, becoming the most professional and convenient auto logistics zone in Taiwan.

Trading volume and value of Taichung Harbor advanced 8.9% and 48.8%, respectively. Due to large business scales for oil-product trade and transshipment operation, Taichung Harbor boasted the highest amounts in both trading volume and value among free-trade harbor zones last year.

The free-trade harbor zone of Taoyuan Airport focuses on the value-added service of electronic products. Its trading volume and value slipped 3.7% and 23.6%, respectively, in 2011, due to steep decline in demand for DRAM, flash, and other related products in the global market, which led to plunge in logistics for electronic components and parts at the zone.

Meanwhile, the container handling volume of Taiwanese international harbors reached 13.42 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), a four-year high, up 5.4%, compared with the growth rate of 5.3% of Singapore and 3% of Hong Kong.

Thanks to the inauguration of the inter-continental container center in Jan. 2011, the container handling volume of Kaohsiung Harbor advanced 5% to 9.64 million TEUs in 2011, a three-year high, when the handling volume of Taichung Harbor inched up 2% to 1.38 million TEUs and that of Taipei Harbor jumped 50.3% to 650,000 TEUs, both record highs. The container handling volume of Keelung Harbor dipped 0.8% to 1.75 million TEU, due to the transfer of some business to Taipei Harbor.