BEIJING — China's cargo throughput at ports climbed 7.7 percent year-on-year to 7.9 billion tons in the first seven months, official data showed.

At the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Transport expanded the statistical range from major ports to all ports across the country.

Foreign trade cargo throughput amounted to 2.5 billion tons in the Jan-July period, up 3.1 percent year-on-year.

Container throughput at ports registered a 5.2 percent increase to around 150 million 20-foot equivalent units in the same period, the ministry said.

The cargo throughput growth at ports came amid the steady expansion of China's waterway freight volume, which increased 7.4 percent year-on-year to 4.1 billion tons in the first seven months.