File photo: China Daily

BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's total freight volume, an indicator of economic activity, maintained steady expansion from January to August this year, according to official data.

Freight volume in the first eight months grew 11.7 percent from the same period in 2019, data from the Ministry of Transport (MOT) showed.

Railway freight volume increased 18.1 percent in the first eight months compared with the same period in 2019, while highway and waterway freight volumes rose 11.2 percent and 10.1 percent, respectively.

During this eight-month period, the country's express delivery business volume surged 83.5 percent from the same period in 2019.

"At present, the national transportation network is generally smooth, and the main logistics indicators are stable and improving," said Shu Chi, spokesperson for the MOT.

On Sept. 8, the daily container throughput of Shanghai Port exceeded 160,000 twenty-foot equivalent units for the first time. The cargo throughput of the Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport increased by 82.7 percent and 38.1 percent, respectively, compared with that of early May.

The ministry will continue to work to ensure safe and stable transport and logistics across the country to support the economy, Shu added.