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TOP 100 Container Ports

Overview

A silver lining in sight?

It took quite some time for the turbulence that began in the financial markets in 2007 to take hold on the real economy. Indeed, the first half of 2008 was virtually unscathed, particularly when you consider that many ports around the world achieved double-digit percentage throughput growth in that period. more
Posted: 01-08-2009

How the figures stack up

Cargo Systems is extremely grateful to the world's port authorities and terminal operators, which have assisted in providing the information contained in this year's edition of the CS Top 100 Container Ports. more
Posted: 01-08-2009

Best of the rest

Chile’s most important box gateway had another impressive year of double-digit growth in 2008. It narrowly missed gaining a place in the top 100, coming in at 101. more
Posted: 01-08-2009

Profiles

In-depth profiles of the world's top 100 container ports, based on throughput for the last 12 months.

1 Singapore Throughput: 29,973,000teu (+7.4%)

For the fourth year running, Singapore has retained its position as the world's number one box port. Industry predictions that Shanghai would steal the top spot came to nothing with Singapore outdoing its Chinese rival by a margin of over 2m teu.

2 Shanghai Throughput: 28,006,400teu (+7.1%)

Despite the shrinking percentage growth from double to single-digit, Shanghai retained second place on the league table. However, it failed to meet expectations that it could overtake Singapore as the world's busiest box port. Shanghai missed its 2008 target of 28.5m teu, which it had revised down from 30m teu in October 2008.

3 Hong Kong Throughput: 24,494,000teu (+2.1%)

Despite the challenge from the ever-expanding Pearl River Delta (PRD) ports and the global financial tsunami, Hong Kong kept its position as the third busiest box port and recorded a volume increase.

4 Shenzhen Throughput: 21,416,400teu (+1.5%)

Having recorded the lowest throughput growth in China last year, Shenzhen saw box volume slide more than 20% in the first quarter of 2009, compared with the 13% decline recorded for Chinese coastal ports overall.

5 Busan Throughput: 13,420,000teu (+1.2%)

After five consecutive years of growth, Busan is now 17% ahead of its throughput in 2004 and easily maintained its fifth place ranking in 2008.

6 Dubai Throughput: 11,800,000 (+10.8%)

Throughput at DP World's flagship port increased by 1.15m teu in 2008, climbing one place to sixth in the Top 100. Congestion problems, along with the downturn in global trade hit the port hard in the second half of the year.

7 Guangzhou Throughput: 11,001,400teu (+18.8%)

Thanks to strong domestic container traffic, Guangzhou enjoyed a double-digit increase in 2008 throughput and expects to see growth continue this year.

8 Ningbo-Zhoushan Throughput: 10,933,700teu (+15.9%)

Last year, Hong Kong's Modern Terminals signed a strategic framework agreement with the Zhoushan Port Authority to invest US$1bn to build a nine-berth terminal complex in Zhoushan.

9 Rotterdam Throughput: 10,800,000teu (+0.1%)

A sharp downturn in traffic volumes during the final quarter of 2008 meant that Europe's largest container port registered no growth in its throughput in 2008.

10 Qingdao Throughput: 10,024,400teu (+5.9%)

The port's focus is on domestic growth and investment in 2009, according to Qingdao Port Group's (QPG) Chairman and President Chang Dechuan.

All Top 100 Container Ports »