The official news is out – Shanghai in 2010 overtook long time number one container port Singapore, with a mere 650 000 TEUs separating the world’s two top performers. Figures from the Shanghai International Port Group Company show that the port handled 29.05-million TEUs in 2010, up 16.2% from the 25-m TEUs it handled in 2009. Meanwhile, figures from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) pegged Singapore’s total container throughput at 28.4-m TEUs in 2010, up 9.7% from 25.9-m in 2009. “The economic recovery and the boost from the World Expo helped the city’s container and cargo throughput,” said Shanghai’s city officials. Shanghai’s cargo throughput in 2010 totalled 650-million tonnes (mt), 10.2% more than the 590- mt of cargo in 2009. Singapore, meanwhile, reported a 6.4% increase in cargo throughput in 2010 to 502.5-mt. Shanghai’s container turnover first surpassed Singapore’s level in August after it reported a 20.7% increase in container volume for the month compared to a 4% dip in Singapore’s container volume during the same period. Meanwhile, plans are under way to turn Shanghai into an international shipping hub by 2020. Measures include trial programmes for business tax exemption for shipping companies, incentives for setting up a ship trading brokerage system and encouraging partnerships between insurance companies and shipping enterprises, according to the city government. The viewpoint from Singapore-based Jason Chiang, a consultant with Drewry Maritime Services (Asia), on the new number one is that: “China’s growth is driven by demand for exports while Singapore is a transhipment hub. Less than 20% (of container throughput) handled in Singapore enters or leaves the port inland. “We’re battling for a different piece of the pie,” he explained.
