Achieving 19.06 million TEUs throughput in the first eight months of 2010, has put the Port of Shanghai ahead of Singapore Port and as the world's largest container port currently.

Recent statistics from the Singapore Marine and Ports Authourity (MPA) and the Shanghai International Port (Group) Co.Ltd (SIPG) showed that the throughput of the Port of Shanghai during the entire period was at about five million TEUs more than that of Singapore's port.

In August alone, Shanghai's port container throughput stood at more than 2.6 million TEUs, up nearly 21 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Analysts are saying that the Shanghai port's performance mainly benefited from China's fast growth and the rebounce in export to the US and Europe, whereas Singapore's port, a transshipment centre for containers from South East Asia region, had been affected by the slow economic recovery in the region.

The number of the ships and people entering and exiting China in the two ports that make up the Port of Shanghai both reached their highest levels.

According to statistics of the Yangshan Frontier Inspection Station, the Yangshan Deepwater Port received and sent 805 ships in August, up nearly 11 per cent compared to that of July, and received and sent 18,001 people, up nearly 18 per cent compared to that of July.

In August, the Yangshan Port Area's total throughput amounted to 960,800 TEUs, up almost 37 per cent compared to the same period last year, including an underwater throughput of 380,400 standard containers, up nearly nine per cent from the previous year. The Waigaoqiao Port Area completed a throughput of more than 1.3 million TEUs, up more than 14 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year.

According to Ministry of Transport's 'China Shipping Development Report 2009', nine out of the world's top 20 container ports are located in China.

Source : Bernama