New analysis from globally-known shipping analyst Drewry has shown the world port container throughput, and the Oceania region throughput, have both declined slightly from an all time high.
Drewry’s container throughput index, which is based to 100 as at January 2012, hit a peak of 139.6 points in September 2020 and then contracted by 3.4 points (2.4%) in November 2020.
However, it should be noted that the November 2020 figure is still 4.7% higher than the figure seen in November 2019.
Drewry’s Oceania index had a highest-ever figure of 144.7 points in October 2020 and declined by to 143 points (1.3%) in November 2020, which is still a 3.2% increase on the November 2019 figure.
Drewry noted a series of declines in throughput at several Chinese hubs, particularly Ningbo, Tianjin and Shanghai. Noting that, while a seasonal slowdown is expected, a shortfall of empty containers may have been a factor in dampening growth.
That said, Drewry’s China Index was nonetheless 10 points higher in November 2020 than in November 2019.
Elsewhere in Asia, there was an overall small decline with falls in Singapore and Port Klang (Malaysia). The two ports contribute close to 40% of the total throughput in the region, Drewry notes.
