[EN-SEA] Shanghai Extends Lead As World's Largest Port

Shanghai: Despite a sluggish year by its own meteoric standards, Shanghai has extended its lead as the world's largest port, with its nearest competitor some 120m tons behind the Chinese giant.

Shanghai's overall port figures were up 1.3% or 8m tons to 590m tons in 2009, according to the National Development and Reform Commission giving it the largest port crown for the third straight year.

Its nearest competitor, Singapore, saw overall volumes slide 8.5% to 471.5m tons, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. Shanghai still remains behind the Lion Republic on the box front, having suffered a 10% reversal last year to register a full year container throughput of 25m teu.

Container traffic in Singapore last year totalled 25.9m teu, a 13.5% decline from the 29.9m teu registered in 2008.

Source : STA-Online, 28.01.10.