Port of Singapore suffers container throughput drop in 2020

The Port of Singapore saw its container throughput decrease in 2020 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

Singapore, the second busiest container port in the world, handled 36.9 million TEU, a drop of 0.9% year-on-year (YoY) from the 37.2 million TEU it handled in 2019.

In November 2020, the Port suffered a YoY drop of 4.1% in TEU throughput as it saw vessels fall by 37.4%.

The pandemic has caused traffic to fall in many ports as carriers have cancelled sailings, benefitted from higher freight rates and lower fuel costs, resulting in more fuel sales and fewer port calls.

The data also continues a story of consistently falling traffic at the Port of Singapore throughout 2020, which has seen significant falls in volume due to the pandemic.

However, the TEU throughput has increased by 10 million in the past nine years and Singapore remains one of the busiest hubs for cargo traffic in the world.

In a statement, the MPA said its traffic had remained resilient throughout the pandemic. Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Transport, announced the figures at the Singapore Maritime Foundation New Year Conversations event today.

Singapore remains the world’s top bunkering port with sales amounting to 49.8 million tonnes, an increase of 5% year-on-year.

The Singapore Registry of Ships, which marks its 55th year in 2021, continues to rank amongst the top ship registries in the world, reflecting Singapore’s reputation as a quality flag of choice for international ship owners. The total tonnage of ships under the Singapore flag stood at 95.0 million GT as at end of 2020.


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