Singapore, the centre for trade between Asia and the rest of the world, moved a record 27.9 million containers in 2007, barely keeping its lead as the world's busiest port amidst intense competition from Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Container volume, measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) by the industry, was 12.7 percent higher than in 2006 when 24.8 million containers were moved.
Total vessel arrivals at city-state's ports rose 11 percent in 2007, while sales of bunker or ship fuel increased by 11.2 percent.
"On each of these measures, Singapore continues to maintain its leading position," said Singapore's Transport Minister Raymond Lim, in the text of a speech at a maritime industry event on Thursday.
Third-ranked Shanghai International Port is expected to have leapfrogged over second-placed Hong Kong's Hutchison this year, with 26.2 million TEUs handled for the whole of last year, a 20.4 percent jump from 2006.
Hong Kong has yet to release full year figures, but its ports handled 21.7 million TEUs in the first eleven months of 2007, according to statistics from the Hong Kong Port Development Council.
Situated on the crowded Malacca Strait sea lane, Singapore is home to state-owned PSA International [PSA.UL], the world's biggest container port operator with operations across Europe and Asia.
The Singapore government is spending S$2 billion ($1.4 billion) to expand its home port's capacity by 40 percent in five years, to cope with higher volumes expected from global trade.
Container volume, measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) by the industry, was 12.7 percent higher than in 2006 when 24.8 million containers were moved.
Total vessel arrivals at city-state's ports rose 11 percent in 2007, while sales of bunker or ship fuel increased by 11.2 percent.
"On each of these measures, Singapore continues to maintain its leading position," said Singapore's Transport Minister Raymond Lim, in the text of a speech at a maritime industry event on Thursday.
Third-ranked Shanghai International Port is expected to have leapfrogged over second-placed Hong Kong's Hutchison this year, with 26.2 million TEUs handled for the whole of last year, a 20.4 percent jump from 2006.
Hong Kong has yet to release full year figures, but its ports handled 21.7 million TEUs in the first eleven months of 2007, according to statistics from the Hong Kong Port Development Council.
Situated on the crowded Malacca Strait sea lane, Singapore is home to state-owned PSA International [PSA.UL], the world's biggest container port operator with operations across Europe and Asia.
The Singapore government is spending S$2 billion ($1.4 billion) to expand its home port's capacity by 40 percent in five years, to cope with higher volumes expected from global trade.