THE latest report posted by the Shanghai International Shipping Institute (SISI) shows that among the world's top 20 ports in 2013, half are Chinese ports. 

China's port throughput makes for a larger proportion in the world's total, up from 28.7 per cent in 2012 to 30.4 per cent in 2013. 

The report has also forecast that the world's container volume through maritime ports will grow at a faster rate in 2014 and lead to fiercer competition among the ports, Xinhua reports. 

SISI's report pointed out, the weak recovery of the world's economy and trade protectionism resulted in a only slight growth of three per cent in the world's port box throughput last year, to 641 million TEU. The growth rate had fallen for the third year in a row. 

New markets such as China are still enjoy thriving demand for trade. Among five of the top 20 ports that has ascended in the ranking, four are in China. 

Last year, Shanghai stayed at the top of the list for the fourth straight year with 33.62 million TEU. Its gap with Singapore, which was at second place with 32.58 million TEU, grew wider to one million TEU. 

Shenzhen for the first time overtook Hong Kong to become world's No 3 with 23.28 million TEU. 

The following Chinese ports on the list were: Hong Kong, coming in fourth with 22.29 million TEU; Ningbo-Zhoushan, ranking sixth with 17.35 million TEU; Qingdao, seventh, 15.52 million TEU; Guangzhou, eighth, 15.31 million TEU; Tianjin, 10th, 13 million TEU; Dalian, the 13th, 10.02 million TEU; Kaohsiung, the 14th, 9.94 million TEU; Xiamen, the 17th, 8.01 million TEU. 

SISI's report said, as the world's economy continues to turn better, bilateral and multi-lateral trade agreements will expand to cover a wider area, regional trade will make greater improvement. This will spur growth of container throughput. SISI predicted that the world's box throughput increase will be more than four per cent. 

SISI also warned that economy and trade recovery does not necessarily benefit all. The change of the trade landscape and larger ships are bringing new challenges to the ports. Bigger carrier alliances are weakening the negotiating power of ports. Marketisation of the Chinese port operators is also demanding continuous upgrade of their services and facilities in order to survive fiercer competition.