Global trade crash hits top 20 ports

The container volumes through the world’s Top 20 ports fell 15.5% in the first half of the year. Only two, Qingdao and Tianjin, posted increases, according to Paris-based shipping consultancy, AXS Alphaliner. The big losers were the European ports – with Rotterdam, for example, falling out of the Top 10 altogether. This is a far cry its glory days before 1987 when it was the world’s biggest container port. Hardest hit among the top ports was Hamburg, with a 28.7% drop to 3.6-million TEU throughput, and its global ranking falling from 12 to 15. Los Angeles-Long Beach also slipped a notch, while Ningbo dropped two levels and Bremerhaven one. Gains were made by Qingdao (up three places); Tianjin (up three); Busan (up one); Laem Chabang (up one); and Xiamen (up one). The Top 3 in this beleaguered league of container hub ports remained the same as last year, with Singapore taking number one spot; Shanghai still holding second; and Hong Kong now rating a distinctly distant third place.