Green light for Fangchenggang’s VLOC terminal another sign Vale spat is over

Guangzhou: Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group, the major port operator in Guangxi province, has signed a strategic agreement with the local government of Fangchenggang, a port city in Guangxi, to build a 400,000 dwt bulk terminal in Fangchenggang Port in order to meet the growing demand to serve larger vessels.

The move is yet another sign that Beijing’s row with Brazilian miner, Vale, over VLOC access to China is now over.

Currently the largest berth in Fangchenggang Port has a capacity of 200,000 dwt. The port will be the fourth port to have a 400,000 dwt bulk terminal following Ningbo, Qingdao and Lianyungang.

The project is expected to start in 2016 and the terminal will have an annual handling capacity of 25m tons upon completion in 2019. Total investment on the project is RMB3.5bn ($564m).

Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group operates four ports in Guangxi, including Fangchenggang Port, Qinzhou Port, Beihai Port and Tieshan Port. Fangchenggang Port completed a cargo throughput of 115m tons in 2014.