Shanghai tops Singapore as world's busiest container port

AUGUST figures show that Shanghai has surpassed Singapore as the world's busiest container port, reports Paris-based Alphaliner.

"Current trends indicate that Singapore will likely lose its crown as the busiest container port in 2010," said the latest Alphaliner newsletter.

Other observers have long-maintained that Singapore's top box port title contained an artificial element because so much of its cargo is transsshipment, which is counted twice as it arrives on one ship and leaves on another rather than export and export cargo which is only counted once as it enters or departs.

Said Alphaliner: "While Shanghai's monthly volumes have exceeded Singapore's since April, last month's record throughput at Shanghai has brought its year-to-date total above Singapore for the first time."

Shanghai terminals at Waigaoqiao and Yangshan handled 2.63 million TEU in August, a new monthly handling record for the port, bringing Shanghai volume to 19.06 million TEU year to date. And that tops the 19.01 million TEU handled by Singapore during the same period.

Singapore's August volumes came to 2.43 million TEU, four per cent below the 2.52 million TEU lifted in July. Signs of a slowdown can be detected from Singapore figures.
(Source:www.schednet.com)