BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China's cargo throughput at ports grew 6.6 percent to around 3.15 billion tonnes in the first quarter 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 1.04 billion tonnes in the first three months, up 3.2 percent year-on-year, while domestic trade saw a higher growth of 8.5 percent, according to an MOT report.

Meanwhile, the report said container throughput at ports enjoyed a 6.1-percent rise in the January-March period to 60.33 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU), the report said.

Such growth came amid China's steadily growing waterway freight volume, which saw a 9.1-percent year-on-year rise in the period.