The Alphaliner Weekly Newsletter has published its World's Top 20 ports for the first half of2009.
Only two ports from the list, Qingdao and Tianjin, posted box volume increases.
European ports were the biggest losers with the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands falling out of the Top 10 altogether – a far cry from its glory days before 1987 when it was the world's biggest container port.
The US Ports of Los Angeles-Long Beach also slipped a notch, while Chinese port, Ningbo, dropped two rankings and Germany's Bremerhaven dropped one ranking.
Hardest hit was the Port of Hamburg, Germany, with a 28.7 percent fall in box volume to 3.6 million TEU. Its global ranking fell from 12 to 15.
The following list provides the ranking of the world's top 20 ports:
1) The Port of Singapore suffered an 18.1 percent decline in volume to 12.2 million TEU, but its ranking remained unchanged at number one at the end of the first half of the year.
2) Shanghai suffered a 15.6 percent drop in throughput to 11.6 million TEU, but maintained its number two ranking.
3) Hong Kong throughput fell 17.3 percent to 9.9 million TEU, but its ranking remained unchanged.
4) Shenzhen's box volume fell 21.1 per cent to 8.03 million TEU, but its ranking remained unchanged.
5) The Port of Busan notched up to fifth place even through its throughput volume fell 17.8 percent to 5.6 million TEU.
6) The US Ports of Los Angeles-Long Beach slipped a notch to number six as throughput fell 21 percent to 5.5 million TEU.
7) Dubai in the UAE remained constant with its ranking despite a seven percent decline to 5.4 million TEU.
8) China: Qingdao's standing went up three notches to number eight with a rare container volume increase of two percent to 5.09 million TEU.
9) Guangzhou suffered a 14 percent decline in container volume to 5.09 million TEU, but its standing remained the same.
10) The Port of Ningbo dropped two notches to the world's tenth busiest port with an eleven percent decline in throughput to 4.6 million TEU.
11) The Port of Rotterdam slipped one notch and missed out on the Top 10 with a 15.1 percent decline to 4.6 million TEU.
12) Tianjin, China, was up three spots to rank twelfth with its volume increase of 1.9 percent to 4.1 million TEU
13) Kaohsiung, Taiwan maintained its thirteenth position despite an 18.7 percent decline in boxing to 4.04 million TEU.
14) Belgium: The Port of Antwerp kept its 14th ranking despite its 18.5 percent fall to 3.6 million TEU in the first half.
15) The Port of Hamburg in Germany suffered the most, dropping three notches to 15th place with a 28.7 percent decline to 3.6 million TEU.
16) Port Kelang in Malaysia held steady in 16th spot after a 15.4 decline to 3.3 million TEU.
17) Tanjung Pelepas, also in Malaysia, held its own at number 17 after a 1.5 percent throughput fall to 2.7 million TEU.
18) Laem Chabang in Thailand skipped ahead by one notch despite suffering a 16.6 percent decline to 2.1 million TEU.
19) Germany's Bremerhaven slipped a notch to number 19 after a 20.8 percent loss to 2.1 million TEU.
20) Finally, Xiamen Port, China gained entry into the world's Top 20 after a 14 percent loss to 2.1 million TEU.
Tracey Jia
