Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd.

The volume and value of annual cargo handled through the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) at the Port of Kaohsiung have risen consistently year to year. The FTZ registered 1.0996 million metric tons of cargo worth a total of NT$74.8 billion as of the end of November of this year (2017) -- a 56.94% and 20.99% rise, respectively, over the same period last year, and a new, all-time record.
 
Year by year, the Port of Kaohsiung FTZ handled 745,200MT of cargo worth NT$59.875 billion in 2015, rising 21.26% and 45.72% above 2014 levels and 769,700MT of cargo worth NT$69.54 billion in 2016, rising 3.29% and 16.14% above 2015 levels. The 11-month totals for the current year (2017) are already significantly higher than previous-year annual totals. As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen basic port infrastructures in preparation for continued growth, the port has secured certification as an LME delivery port, begun developing the South Star district, and constructed three new warehouse facilities, respectively, in the Qianzhen, Zhongdao, and South Star districts. Furthermore, the 8 new private enterprises welcomed during the past two years as new FTZ businesses are adding further strong forward momentum.
 
Successful recruitment efforts in 2017 include the significant investment of a large-scale machinery company in new warehouse facilities and the successful bid by a private sector firm to manage operations at transit shed no. 36 in Zhongdao Commercial District.
 
Principal goods handled and stored at the Port of Kaohsiung FTZ include LME nonferrous metals, paper pulp, fresh food products, machinery parts/components, and chemical products. In 2018, the zone expects to see increases in new categories such as frozen goods handling, containerized-cargo logistics, and large-scale steel coil cutting. The port will continue to actively recruit new business investment for the South Star project as well as promote offsite processing and leverage the discrete advantages of non-bonded and bonded areas in order to maximize the advantages to firms of doing business through the FTZ and to achieve overall economic growth goals.