With China's container trade growing at an annual rate of 21 per cent in 2007, the nation's ports made a strong showing among the top 30 box ports worldwide last year, according to a Containerisation International report.
Ports in the US and Japan, however, fared far worse last year than in 2006, and consequently saw their standings drop in the top 30 league, which collectively handled 274 million TEU in 2007, or more than half of the global throughput, reports India's Economic Times.
The Port of Shanghai is now in the number two position, after handling 26.15 million TEU, an increase of 20 per cent over the previous year. Its strong performance pushed Hong Kong into the number three spot.
On the other hand, Singapore remains Southeast Asia's leading port, with throughput rising by 12.5 per cent to 27.9 million TEU.
In third place, Hong Kong's traffic grew 1.4 per cent to 23.88 million TEU, up from 23.54 million TEU the previous year, while Shenzhen posted growth of 14.2 per cent at 21.1 million TEU, putting it in fourth place.
In the number five spot is South Korea's Busan Port, which saw box volumes rise 10 per cent to 13.27 million TEU in 2007. Japan and US ports dropped to 13th and 15th positions, respectively.
Rotterdam handled a record 10.79 million TEU, up 12 per cent year on year. It just topped Kaohsiung with 10.26 million TEU, up 0.49 per cent, placing it in sixth position.
The report said the ports of Antwerp and Bremerhaven maintained their positions in the league, despite recording growth of 16 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively.
Finally, the UK Port of Felixstowe saw volumes rise 10 per cent to put it in 30th place, but it is not expected to retain this position next year.
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