Hong Kong port remains second in box rankings

Hong Kong: Hong Kong container port posted 2.8% growth in 2006 to secure second place in the global rankings probably for the final time before it is overhauled by Shanghai.
The Port Development Council (PDC) reported the former British colony scored a total of 23.23m teu for the year.
Kwai Chung Container Terminals, which traditionally handle two thirds of the port's throughput, saw the biggest growth, up 12.4% to 16.05m teu.
Other cargo-handling areas, such as private wharves and midstreaming, recorded throughput of 7.19m teu in 2006, down 13.6% from a year ago, the PDC said.
Consecutive years of sluggish growth since Hong Kong relinquished its container crown to Singapore in 2005 have recently brought into the question the necessity for a tenth container terminal. Shenzhen, just north of the border, will also likely surpass Hong Kong in the next couple of years.  [22/01/07]