Preliminary estimates from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) indicate that box throughput at Singapore last month jumped 17.9% year-on-year. Total boxes handled by main operator PSA and smaller terminal Jurong Port came up to 2.183 million TEUs in February, compared to 1.851 TEUs in the same month last year.
It must be noted however, that February 2009's 1.851 million TEUs handled represents the lowest throughput for Singapore in the past 36 months, ever since 1.76 million TEUs handled in February 2006.
Market players said Monday that the industry should not get too excited over year-on-year comparisons with 2009.
"Recovery is still going along at a very slow pace," a local player told Bunkerworld.
February 2010 box throughput at Singapore, still the world's busiest port, are a significant 25% short of the highest monthly record of 2.729 TEUs achieved in July 2008.
Officials are of course counting on volumes to eventually attain those heights in months to come, although most market observers told Bunkerworld that they would be "very surprised if that happens".
By most accounts and estimates, 2010 monthly volumes are expected to stay firmly beneath the 2.7 million TEUs mark.
Optimists, however, say at least last month's throughput was not severely far off from February 2008's figure of 2.308 million TEUs.
It must be noted however, that February 2009's 1.851 million TEUs handled represents the lowest throughput for Singapore in the past 36 months, ever since 1.76 million TEUs handled in February 2006.
Market players said Monday that the industry should not get too excited over year-on-year comparisons with 2009.
"Recovery is still going along at a very slow pace," a local player told Bunkerworld.
February 2010 box throughput at Singapore, still the world's busiest port, are a significant 25% short of the highest monthly record of 2.729 TEUs achieved in July 2008.
Officials are of course counting on volumes to eventually attain those heights in months to come, although most market observers told Bunkerworld that they would be "very surprised if that happens".
By most accounts and estimates, 2010 monthly volumes are expected to stay firmly beneath the 2.7 million TEUs mark.
Optimists, however, say at least last month's throughput was not severely far off from February 2008's figure of 2.308 million TEUs.