China's cargo throughput at ports grew by 9.1 percent to around 1.14 billion tonnes in January compared with the same period last year, official data showed.

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

Foreign trade cargo throughput amounted to 378 million tonnes, up 5.9 percent year-on-year, while domestic trade saw a higher growth of 10.8 percent last month, according to a MOT report.

Meanwhile, the report said container throughput at ports enjoyed a 7.8-percent rise to 22.16 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU), the report said.

Such growth came amid China's steadily growing waterway freight volume, which saw a 9.4-percent year-on-year rise last month.