World's top five: Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Busan

THE world's top 20 ports' box volumes fell 15.5 per cent in the first half of the year and only two, Qingdao and Tianjin, posted increases, according to the Alphaliner Weekly Newsletter.

European ports were the losers with Rotterdam falling out of the Top 10 altogether - a far cry its glory days before 1987 when it was the world's biggest container port. Los Angeles-Long Beach also slipped a notch, Ningbo dropped two levels while Bremerhaven slipped one.

Hardest hit was Hamburg with a 28.7 per cent fall to 3.6 million TEU, its global ranking falling from 12 to 15. Gains were also made by Busan (up one), Laem Chabang (up one) and Xiamen (up one).

1) Singapore suffered an 18.1 per cent decline to 12.2 million TEU, but its ranking remained unchanged at No 1 at the end of the first half of the year.

2) Shanghai suffered a 15.6 per cent drop to 11.6 million TEU, but its No. 2 ranking remained unchanged.

3) Hong Kong fell 17.3 per cent to 9.9 million TEU, but its ranking remained unchanged.

4) Shenzhen fell 21.1 per cent to 8.03 million TEU, but its ranking remained unchanged.

5) Busan went up a notch to No 5 even through its volume fell 17.8 per cent to 5.6 million TEU.

6) Los Angeles-Long Beach slipped a notch to No 6 as throughput fell 21 per cent to 5.5 million TEU.

7) Dubai stayed the same at No 7 with a 7 per cent decline to 5.4 million TEU.

8) Qingdao's standing went up three notches to No 8 with a rare container volume increase of two per cent to 5.09 million TEU.

9) Guangzhou suffered a 14 per cent decline to 5.09 million TEU, but its standing remained the same at No 9.

10) Ningbo dropped two notches to No 10 sport with an 11 per cent decline to 4.6 million TEU.

11) Rotterdam slipped one notch - and fell out of the Top 10 - to No 11 spot with a 15.1 per cent decline to 4.6 million TEU.

12) Tianjin was up three to No 12 spot with the only other volume increase, 1.9 per cent to 4.1 million TEU

13) Kaohsiung held its No 13 position despite an 18.7 per cent decline to 4.04 million TEU.

14) Antwerp kept its 14th ranking despite its 18.5 per cent fall to 3.6 million TEU in the first half.

15) Hamburg suffered the most, dropping three notches to 15th place with a 28.7 per cent decline to 3.6 million TEU.

16) Kelang held steady in 16th spot after a 15.4 decline to 3.3 million TEU.

17) Tanjung Pelepas held its own at No 17 after a 1.5 per cent fall to 2.7 million TEU.

18) Laem Chabang jumped one notch despite suffering a 16.6 per cent decline to 2.1 million TEU.

19) Bremerhaven slipped a notch to No 19 after a 20.8 per cent loss to 2.1 million TEU.

20) Xiamen gained one spot after a 14 per cent loss to 2.1 million TEU.

(Source: www,schednet.com)