Ports are divided into base ports and non-base ports. Base ports are ports that are regularly called by liner companies as specified in the freight rate table. Most of them are large ports located in the center, with relatively good port facilities and stable cargo. Cargo shipped to base ports is generally directly transported without transshipment. All ports other than base ports are called non-base ports. In addition to the base port charges, non-base ports generally charge a transshipment surcharge. When a certain amount of cargo is reached, a direct surcharge will be charged. For example, Honiara Port (HONIARA) on the New Guinea route is the base port of the Solomon Islands; while KIETA Port (KIETA) is a non-base port. The freight rate for goods shipped to KIETA Port is based on the Honiara freight rate plus a transshipment surcharge of US$43.00 (USD)/FT.
Major seaports in the world
World shipping and port throughput are important barometers of the global economy. Currently, maritime transport is one of the most important modes of transport in international commodity exchange. More than 80% of international cargo transportation needs to be completed by sea, and more than 90% of my country’s foreign trade cargo needs to be completed by sea. As a transportation and logistics hub, ports play an important role in the world’s import and export trade. In 2016, the overall global economic operation slowed down. The throughput of the top ten ports reached 5.82 billion tons, an increase of 142 million tons over 2015, a year-on-year increase of 2.5%, maintaining a slight growth; the Chinese port group led by Ningbo Zhoushan Port and Shanghai Port continued to maintain its leading advantage in the global port cargo throughput “qualifying”.