Shanghai up 3.6pc, retains world's No.1 port in 2008 tonnage

THE Port of Shanghai lifted 582 million tonnes of cargo during 2008, up 3.6 per cent year on year, continued to retain its title as the world's largest port in terms of overall tonnage, Logistics Week reported.

The port handled 28 million TEU last year, up 7.1 per cent, which was the second largest container throughput in the world. Yangshan Port Area handled 8.2 million TEU.

It is widely believed that Shanghai is the No 1 container port in real terms because the officially recognised world leader, Singapore, and many other rivals, handle a disproportionate number of double-counted transhipment boxes, which are counted once when they arrive and twice when they depart. Little trade of this nature is conducted in Shanghai where containers are counted when they depart to export consignees from the port and once when they arrive bound for landside consignees. Transhipment boxes arrive on ship and leave on a ship without ever leaving the port for a landside destination.

Source: Portnews