CHINA International Marine Containers (Group) (CIMC) plans to move its Tianjin production facility closer to the mainland city''s port, and recently held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of its new premises.

According to Xinhua, CIMC is undertaking the relocation in order to be closer to the port, and to save on transportation costs. By moving to a more modern plant, the company also seeks to boost its market share, which is around 50 per cent of the international container manufacturing market.

The site, located at the Tianjin Port Container Logistics Centre, covers an area measuring 300,000 square metres, and will be used by the company to make containers and offer services for box distribution and maintenance. The first phase of the project will allow for a container production of 150,000 TEU per year.