During October Shanghai cemented its position as the world's foremost port with an 8%+ jump in containers handled against the previous year meaning in excess of 2.35 million TEU's of freight transited the city during the month. The Shanghai International Port (Group) Co. (SIPG) said customs statistics meant their facilities had handled more cargo than any other in each of the past three months.

SIPG has three major container port areas, namely Wusongkou, Waigaoqiao and Yangshan within the port and Waigaoqiao handled 50% of the October total. With the new container handling facilities opening there later this month to increase handling capacity by over 2 million TEU's annually at three new container berths, plus the ability to transit almost three quarters of a million automobiles on two new RoRo quays, one can see why investment continues to congregate around the city.

Next year will see Dutch giant Philips shipping the HQ for its domestic appliance sector into town as it targets the emerging consumer base in Asia having watched its share of the home market slipping. With most of the white goods being produced locally it makes sense for any old world producer to ensure management control is kept within earshot.