WASHINGTON: Globally 65% of large container ports grew in terms of throughput in 2016, but the Port of Salalah in Oman saw the largest growth spurt, according to Dutch maritime consulltancy Dynamar. Dynamar’s DynaLiners ‘The Millionaires’ data report for July summarises throughput data for the 126 ports worldwide handling more than 1,000,000 TEU. Of these large container ports 65%, or 82 of 126 ports, saw throughpout grow from 2015 to 2016. Globally, the three largest ports in terms of throughput in 2016 were Shanghai (37,130,000 TEU), Singapore (30,900,000 TEU), and Shenzen (23,979,300 TEU). Shenzen comprises the integrated port complex of Dachan, Shekou and Yantian. China remained the country with the largest container throughput, although the reports’ authors have noted that figures from Chinese ports often include river cargo.
China as the country with the most container throughput was followed by the US, Singapore and South Korea in that order. But in terms of individual ports expanding container throughput, ports not only in Asia and the Middle East, but also in the UK, ranked in the top five. Leading the pack were the Port of Salalah in Oman (29%), Port of Southampton in the UK (26%) and the Port of Tangshan in China (27%), followed by the Port of Chittagong in Bangaldesh (26%), and London Port in the UK (26%). Salalah Port’s container throughput has rocketed 29% following the completion of a new deep-water general cargo and liquid bulk terminal in December, 2015, as PTI previously reported. ULCVs then regularly calling Salalah comprised vessels of about 16,000 TEU capacity typically deployed in the Asia/Europe trade lane. Around 90% of Salalah’s container traffic in the year was transshipment cargo. Fewer ports (34%) faced declines in container throughput over the period, of which the Freeports Container Port in the Bahamas recorded the largest decline at -14%. In terms of terminal operator growth, Singapore-headquartered PSA grew the most (6%) with 56,300,000 TEU, Hong-kong-led Hutchinson Ports grew the second most, followed by Dutch APM Terminals and UAE-based DP World.
