The port of Qinhuangdao in north China's Hebei Province handled nearly 70 million tons of coal in 1999, a new record that is 12 percent more than 1998.

This means that the demand for coal is picking up again in bothdomestic and overseas markets. Qinhuangdao is a hub for the transportation of coal from north to south China, and a major portfor coal export.

The amount of coal handled by the port decreased between 1996 and 1998 due to a saturated of market, according to a port official.

Authorities attribute the recovery of coal transport to improved service and the use of advanced cargo-handling equipment at the port.

The port's total assets stood at 9.4 billion yuan at the end of1999, up 28 percent from 1996.