The first iron ore was unloaded at a new 52 million tonnes/year iron ore transhipment port in eastern China’s Zhejiang province this week. The new Shulanghu wharves at Zhoushan port increase China’s ability to utilise very large ore carriers (VLOCs), Kallanish notes.

The 176,000 deadweight tonne Savina unloaded a nearly full load of iron ore at the new port after stopping off at Australia’s Port Hedland in early January. The new facilities include two 400,000dwt-capable, one 100,000dwt-capable and two 50,000 dwt-capable wharves.

The transhipment port adds new capacity to handle Valemax VLOCs at in the Ningbo region. Ningbo, Qingdao, Dalian and Rizhao can all handle VLOCs, as can Baosteel’s new iron ore port at Zhanjiang.