It is predicted that global port throughput and container throughput will maintain a modest growth of over 5%, Shanghai International Shipping Center forecasts. To be specific, stimulated by the economic recovery, European ports are likely to see a return to stability, with a limited growth of less than 3%. American and African ports may register some growth in throughput subsequent to the slow recovery of international trade volume and stronger cargo handling capacity. Under the spell of the new round of internal demand-boosting policies, the growth of Asian ports may rebound above 7%.
Meanwhile, the growth in international container throughput will be higher than that of 2012. With the support of favorable policies, China and the US will see the recovery in throughput of containers for domestic trade. Global ports, especially those in emerging economies, may see some improvement in their operating conditions. With global economic, trade and shipping centers moving eastward, China and Southeast Asia have witnessed rapid economic and trade development and made heavy investments in port construction. Therefore, sought-after destinations of terminal construction and investment may be gradually shifted from Asia to Latin America and Africa.
Top 20 Global Ports in 2012
(100 million ton)
|
Ranking |
Port |
Throughput in 2012 |
Throughput in 2011 |
Growth Rate |
|
1(2) |
Ningbo-Zhoushan |
7.44 |
6.94 |
7.2% |
|
2(1) |
Shanghai |
7.36 |
7.20 |
2.2% |
|
3(3) |
Singapore |
5.38 |
5.31 |
1.2% |
|
4(4) |
Tianjin |
4.76 |
4.51 |
5.5% |
|
5(5) |
Rotterdam |
4.42 |
4.35 |
1.6% |
|
6(6) |
Guangzhou |
4.34 |
4.29 |
1.2% |
|
7(7) |
Qingdao |
4.02 |
3.75 |
7.2% |
|
8(8) |
Dalian |
3.73 |
3.38 |
10.4% |
|
9(9) |
Tangshan |
3.58 |
3.08 |
16.3% |
|
10(10) |
Busan |
3.11 |
2.94 |
6.1% |
|
11(13) |
Yingkou |
3.01 |
2.61 |
15.4% |
|
12(14) |
Rizhao |
2.81 |
2.53 |
11.1% |
|
13(12) |
Hong Kong |
2.70 |
2.78 |
-2.6% |
|
14(11) |
Qinhuangdao |
2.63 |
2.80 |
-5.9% |
|
15(17) |
Hedland |
2.44 |
2.01 |
21.7% |
|
16(15) |
South Louisiana |
2.41 |
2.40 |
0.5% |
|
17(16) |
Kwangyang |
2.32 |
2.06 |
12.7% |
|
18(20) |
Shenzhen |
2.01 |
1.80 |
11.5% |
|
19(18) |
Yantai |
1.97 |
1.97 |
-0.2% |
|
20(21) |
Ulsan |
1.85 |
1.66 |
11.4% |