China's Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT) has opened its first inland container depot in Dongguan City, reports said.

Local shippers can now pick up empty containers at the new facility, which is close to factories and cargo sources in Dalingshan Town, and return empty import containers to the depot after unloading the goods.

This saves shippers trucking the boxes back to Yantian port.

The new 3.12 hectares depot, which has the backing of the Shenzhen government, is expected to meet requirements of factories which are migrating further inland.

The depot provides these factories with 24/7 storage, management, cleaning and repair for up to 8,000 TEU.

Liu Zukun, manager of Dongguan Yongxin Logistics Company, said the new depot has brought benefits to his company.

''Previously, we had to pick up import containers from Yantian port and unload them in the factories, and then we had to return the empty containers to Yantian,'' Liu was quoted saying.

''But now we can just return the empties to Dalingshan, and move on with our next order. We are now able to make two rounds a day at just one round's cost.''