Port of Singapore – The World’s Busiest Container Port?

The Port of Singapore holds the title of world’s busiest container port because it handles the largest amount of total shipping tonnage. It also tranships a fifth of the world’s shipping containers and  half of the world’s annual supply of crude oil. The port handled 1.15 billion gross tons (GT) in 2005 when it took the title from Rotterdam. This growth is largely do to the influx of intra-Asia and Asia-Europe trade. Singapore’s strategic location has also helped in making it such a giant in the shipping industry. 20% of the world’s transshipment trade passes through the Port of Singapore. In 2007 transshipment accounted for 5% more then the total of imports and exports of Singapore.

However, Singapore might not hold the title of world’s busiest container port for much longer. The chinapost.com tells us that…..

SINGAPORE — Singapore could lose its crown as the world’s busiest container port to Shanghai this year. The Chinese port moved more containers than Singapore did from April to last month, and may clinch the leader’s status by year end.“Shanghai could beat Singapore this year, but it will be a close match,” said Divay Goel, head of Asia operations at Drewry Shipping Consultants. Last month’s data from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Tuesday showed that Shanghai moved 2.44 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) — standard-sized container boxes — to Singapore’s 2.39 million. Read full story @ chinapost.com

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