The port area in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province delivers more than 93 million metric tons of cargos in the first two months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 18.27 percent. [Photo/WeChat account: china-zjftz]

The port area in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province delivered more than 93 million metric tons of cargos in the first two months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 18.27 percent, according to the local shipping and port administration.

Statistics show that the throughput of oil and gas, grain and coal experienced a double-digit increase during the same period while container throughput in Zhoushan port area jumped 38.88 percent year-on-year to 316,300 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

A staff member from the Zhoushan shipping and port administration attributed the the robust performance in the first two months of this year to the early resumption of production after the Spring Festival holiday and a booming market demand.

"A full oil and gas industrial chain is the biggest characteristic of Zhoushan and oil and gas are also the main bulk cargos delivered in Zhoushan port area," said the staff member, noting that Zhoushan port area delivered 22.52 million tons of oil and gas last year, a year-on-year growth of 24.25 percent.

The city has attracted 170 oil and chemical carriers with a total deadweight capacity of 800,000 tons to date. Zhoushan has also offered 800,000 tons of bonded bunker oil in January and February this year.

The substantial growth of Zhoushan port area's cargo throughput has also boosted the development of the shipping industry in the city. Since the second half of last year, shipping companies in the city have realized profit in general cargo transport.

From January to February this year, Zhoushan's shipping companies received 590 million yuan ($90.68 million) of fixed-asset investment, 1.68 times the same period last year.