Excerpt from: China Supply Chain and Logistics Strategy
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| September 06, 2005 | | Jiulongpo Container Berth is strategically located for intermodal surface transportation | The Jiulongpo International Container Berth (at the Chongqing Port) has already become the biggest and most advanced container yard along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. 93% of the yearly international container import/export volume for the region is handled by this berth. Over the past few years, the Jiulongpo Container Berth Company has constructed a 50,000 sq meter container yard, renovated 2 old berths, constructed 2 container operations lanes, and has purchased new container handling equipment.
The Jiulongpo area is Chongqing’s southwest warehouse base, being strategically located for intermodal surface transportation – with water, rail, and road options.
Chongqing port has 350,000 square meters of warehouse and storage space. In November of 2000, Chongqing Customs set up a port office at Jiulongpo and in June of 2002 they set up a Customs inspection station, possessing EDI linkages with Shanghai Customs. In 2003, with China Customs guidance, Chongqing established the first public bonded warehouse. Inside the warehouse there is 24 hour full supervision system and a computer network to meet all bonded warehousing needs.
Comparing Methods of Transport from Chongqing to Shanghai
While there are multimodal options from Chongqing to Shanghai, the different options present unique strengths and weaknesses. Companies shipping from Chongqing to Shanghai must be aware of the alternatives before they can make informed decisions:
| Pros | Cons
| Barge
| - Service should improve significantly with completion of 3 Gorges and infrastructure upgrades
- Most suitable mode for export
| - Lack of standardized vessels leads to low utilization rate on Yangtze River
- FCL costs high
- Transit time inconsistent
- Low flexibility (infrequent sailings)
- Bad weather, fog, 3 Gorges traffic, floods, etc
- Transit time longer than truck
| Truck
| | - Cost 50% higher than barge
- Accidents, delays, poor road conditions, and cargo security problem
- Suitable for inter-provincial movements
| Rail
| - 3 day lead time to Shanghai on express train
- Security is reliable
- Improved service
- Good on-time KPIs
| - Can't guarantee space with express service
- Standard service has long lead time, hard to book space
- Breakbulk oriented, not export containers
- Express service costs 50% more than truck
- Low volume capacity
- Good for intra-provincial transport
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