Shanghai Container volume at Shanghai Port rose 3.4 per cent in May from a year earlier, down slightly from 4 per cent growth in April, data issued by the port's operator. Container throughput reached 2.94 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up slightly from 2.83 million in April and compared with 2.84 million in May 2012.

The numbers are watched by investors for clues on China's trade figures. May data will be released on Saturday. China's exports are forecast to have climbed 7.3 per cent in May compared to a year earlier, halving from April's 14.7 per cent growth, according to a Reuters poll.