Shenzhen's plan to spend Yn30bn on increasing the capacity of its airport and sea ports may lead to over-supply in the Pearl River Delta region, warned an analyst quoted by South China Morning Post. During the current five-year plan (2001-05), the city will spend Yn15.6bn to increase its cargo-handling capacity to 36.2m tonnes a year, according to Zhou Tianlin, director of the municipal ports bureau. Container throughput rose 49 per cent year-on-year to 6.2m teu in the first 10 months of 2002. By 2005, 10 berths are to be built at the city's three major ports,Yantian, Shekou and Chiwan, doubling their current capacity. Longer term, a second runway and a third passenger terminal are to be built at the city's airport.
However, Michael Chan, head of transport and logistics research at Bank of China International, said overcapacity in the region was likely and he highlighted a lack of co-operation between Shenzhen, Guangdong and Hong Kong. He suggested that Shenzhen should spend more on logistics 'software' and on mapping out a plan that would lead to a well-rounded transportation system, including highways and railroads.
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