Freight rose 3.5% to 54.59m tons, while ferries carried 13.8% more people at 1.78m, Sinocast reported.

Cargo volume and passenger traffic from China grew 4.3% and 14% to 34.48m tons and 907,000 passengers respectuively.

Going in the other direction, the figures were higher by 2.3% and 13.7% to 20.11m tons and 872,000 people.

About 200 vessels from 121 companies are plying routes across the straits.