Ningbo to turn tides on Singapore as boxes keep flowing in
China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan port has witnessed a flourishing growth in
the container sector, as it draws nearer to Singapore – currently the world’s
second busiest container port.
Alphaliner’s latest data noted that the Chinese port handled a total of
17.54 million TEU in the first half of 2022, just 1.08 million TEU less than
Singapore versus 2.7 million TEU in the same period a year ago and 4 million TEU
prior to the pandemic.
Record-breaking results were also registered in Q2 following the
three-month lockdown of Shanghai, which reportedly boosted the port’s volume
growth as transpacific cargo was substantially diverted to Ningbo-Zhoushan.
“Indeed Ningbo-Zhoushan even overtook Singapore in Q2 though figures were
undoubtedly boosted by the extraordinary Shanghai lockdowns in April and May,”
noted Alphaliner.
“Ningbo-Zhoushan has benefitted from restrictions at its lock-down hit
neighbour Shanghai, with many carriers diverting ships to avoid delays and
trucking issues.”
However, the port has been witnessing continued growth since July –
handling 3.28 million TEU up 26 per cent on the year before even as volumes
bounced back at Shanghai.
Singapore ended H1 posting a drop in volumes by 1.7 per cent compared to
the same period the year prior, against Ningbo’s 8.8 per cent climb.
In April the East China Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan hit a record monthly 3
million TEU.
