Shanghai could surpass Singapore this year as the world's top cargo port in terms of throughput, state media reported Nov. 8. Turnover is expected to hit more than 440 million tons in Shanghai by year-end compared to 379 million tons in 2004 when it was second to Singapore, Xinhua news agency said.
The report, citing Shanghai Port Administration statistics, predicted that such a growth rate would be enough to give Singapore top port honors. Shanghai's throughput in the past 10 months hit 363 million tons. By comparison Singapore will handle 420 million tons by year-end after handling 211 million tons in the first six months to June, the report said.
In terms of TEUs or Twenty-Feet Equivalent Units, Shanghai saw container turnover of 14.89 million TEUs in the first 10 months, exceeding the 14.55 million TEUs for last year. Although Shanghai surpassed Rotterdam in TEUs last year, its expected handling of 18 million TEUs in 2005 will not be enough to surpass leaders Hong Kong and Singapore.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005
