Shanghai port takes crown as busiest container port for 2014

Last year’s box volumes rose 4.5% compared to 33.77m teu recorded in 2013, according to data from Shanghai International Port (Group) Co (SIPG).

The 2014 annual throughput was tabulated after SIPG released data on December volumes, which stood at 2.9m teu, inching up 1.4% year-on-year.

Shanghai port, which includes Waigaoqiao port, Yangshan port and Wusong port, has been the world’s busiest container since 2010 when its annual volumes surpassed that of Singapore.

Shanghai’s closest rival, Singapore, is unlikely to beat the Chinese port as the island-state handled 30.96m teu in the first 11 months of 2014, trailing behind by 4.33m teu.

Meanwhile, Shanghai port, which handles more than 50,000 ships annually, had announced early last month a plan to offer cold ironing services in a bid to reduce pollution from ships.