The Hebei provincial transportation department’s waterway authority was reporting a throughout capacity of the province’s ports of 680 million tons, by Dec 31, 2012, a 120-million-ton increase over the whole year, a rate that puts it in No 1 place in the country.

The provincial waterway bureau said that, in 2012, it had stuck to its goal of improving port construction work and had approved seven construction projects and had made a great effort to increase its throughout capacity gradually.

The Hebei Port Group reported 349.5 million tons in total throughout for 2012, almost 19.5 million tons above its expected amount. Income from the activity also hit a record high by exceeding 10 billion yuan.