Zhoushan Port in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Zhoushan Daily]

Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang province has demonstrated a robust development trend in the first five months of this year, with significant growth across major cargo categories such as grain, coal, and metal ores.

From January to May, the port handled a total cargo throughput of 301 million metric tons, marking a 5.44 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This volume accounts for more than 30 percent of the province's total throughput.

Zhoushan's bulk cargo transportation has seen several significant milestones during this period. On May 11, the vessel Innovation 5 successfully docked at Chongqing Luohuang Port, marking the maiden voyage of the new Zhoushan-Chongqing direct river-sea route. This voyage set several historical firsts, including being the first 10,000-ton river-sea direct vessel to pass through the Three Gorges Dam.

In addition, the Shulanghu terminal achieved an iron ore throughput of 6.99 million tons in May, a 10 percent year-on-year increase. The terminal also set a new benchmark by achieving the first-ever simultaneous docking of a 400,000-ton and a 200,000-ton ore vessel.

These accomplishments highlight Zhoushan Port's strategic importance and its continued efforts to enhance operational efficiency and service quality.