CIMC gain boosts Cosco Pacific 9-month profit to $640.4mCIMC gain boosts Cosco Pacific 9-month profit to $640.4m

Without the $393.4m one-off gain however, net profit fell 0.8% to $224m as the still stuttering global economy and strengthening Chinese yuan put pressure on exports.

"During the first three quarters of 2013, the recovery of the world's major advanced economies was strengthening but the growth of major emerging economies became moderate," the company said in an announcement.

Volumes at its container terminals rose 12.5% to 4.5m teus in the third quarter while over the first nine months, volumes increased 9.7% to 12.7m teu.

By region, the Bohai Rim and the Yangtze River Delta outperformed the export-focussed ports in the Pearl River Delta. In the first nine months, throughput rose 11% at the Bohai Rim ports and 13.7% at the Yangtze River Delta, while the Pearl River Delta ports saw flat growth of 1.4%.