CHINA'S railway, road and waterway cargo traffic posted a 9.8 per cent year-on-year increase in volume in the first three quarters to 32.38 billion tonnes, down 1.1 per cent from last year.

Ground and waterway cargo transport volume increased 9.9 per cent year on year, 0.4 percentage point faster than in the first half, according to Ministry of Transport statistics, reported Xinhua.

Railway, road and waterway cargo turnover increased 6.5 per cent to 13.27 trillion tonnes per kilometre, 2.8 percentage points slower year on year.

Railway departure cargo volume recorded its first growth of the year in July and continued to rise in August and September rising 7.2 per cent year on year.

From January to August, Yangtze River mainstream cargo traffic climbed 11.4 per cent, 8.9 percentage points faster than a year ago.

In the first three quarters, railway, road and waterway passenger traffic was up 5.7 per cent up to 29.52 billion persons, 2.2 percentage points slower year on year. Passenger turnover increased 6.8 per cent to 2.28 trillion person per kilometre, 0.6 percentage points slower year on year.