PORTS in northern China's Hebei province posted a 16.8 per cent year-on-year increase in overall cargo volume to 729 million tonnes in the first 10 months, according to Hebei Provincial Port and Navigational Bureau, reports Xinhua.

Tangshan port, one of the three major ports in the province, lifted 365 million tonnes in the period, up 23.5 per cent year on year. Its Jingtang port area and Caofeidian port area handled 163 million tonnes and 202 million tonnes respectively, representing an 18.7 per cent and 27.7 per cent increase.

Qinhuangdao port's throughput declined 0.9 per cent to 223 million tonnes.

Huanghua port recorded a 36.3 per cent increase to 141 million tonnes.

Major cargo in the ports such as coal, ore and steel all maintained a steady growth. Coal increased 15 per cent to 460 million tonnes, ore grew 18 per cent to 171 million tonnes and steel was up 19 per cent to 38 million tonnes.