TAIWAN's port of Kaohsiung handled a total of 9.94 million TEU in 2013, an increase of 1.6 per cent compared to 2012, according to figures from port authorities.

Harbour master David Cheng said the container throughput is below the port authority's target of moving 10 million TEU last year, reported Seatrade Global.

The port's highest monthly throughput in 2013 was recorded in December with 882,791 TEU.

The port is adding 611,000 TEU of new capacity by 2018 to meet the expected steady rise in container volumes over the years. Its current capacity is 13 million TEU per annum.

Scheduled to start in 2015, the expansion project is estimated to cost TWD14.3 billion (US$477.8 million), including TWD3.8 billion from government coffers and TWD10.51 billion from local private investment.

Kaohsiung port has also acquired 133 hectares of hinterland to develop value-added services such as international logistics and manufacturing industries to support the growing container trade.