(Yicai Global) May 13 -- China’s major ports were operating smoothly and efficiently last month, despite the impact of the recent Covid-19 outbreaks in many parts of the country, according to the latest data.

The Average Port Time, which refers to the total time spent at the harbor and reflects overall operating efficiency, was 1.8 days in April, according to a survey by the Ministry of Transport of the world’s top 20 ports by container throughput. By contrast, the APT at 11 big overseas ports was 3.3 days.

And the Average Berthing Time, which refers to the time spent loading and unloading, was 1.07 days, compared with 2.4 days in the foreign ports, it added.

“China’s main ports have not shown serious congestion during the latest Covid-19 flare-ups,” shipping expert Chen Haiping told Yicai Global. The maximum APT during the peak of the outbreaks was less than three days. This is partly because China’s ports are highly automated, he said. China has 33 automated terminals which have greatly improved throughput and efficiency.

The APT at the Port of Shanghai was 2.12 days in April, a 34 percent improvement on the same period last year, but 15.2 percent slower than in March, the MOT said. The ABT was 0.96 days, a quickening of 2 percent year on year but a slowdown of 11.9 percent month on month.

The Port of Shanghai handled 47 million twenty-foot equivalent units last year, maintaining its top place in the world for the 12th straight year, industry insider Shi Xiufen said. Ningbo Zhoushan Port, the Port of Shenzhen, the Port of Guangzhou, Qingdao Port and Tianjin Port also ranked among the top 10 ports by cargo throughput.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Kim Taylor