SINGAPORE : PSA Singapore Terminals, says on Tuesday that it
moved a record 20.6 million containers in 2004 after a resurgence
in seaborne trade.
PSA operates the world's second-busiest container port after Hong
Kong.
Singapore's container traffic rose 14.1 percent from 2003, when the
port moved just 18.1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs)
after a regional outbreak of SARS diminished trade.
But in 2004, seaborne trade and container traffic recovered on the
back of a rebounding regional economy, led by China's rapid rise as
a manufacturing base.
Last year, PSA Singapore also welcomed 36 new services - more than
double the 15 new services it had in the year before.
Singapore's record high container traffic also came in the face of
fierce competition from neighboring ports, especially Malaysia's
Port Klang and the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, where handling charges
are cheaper.
However, Singapore has been able to beat the competition by
trimming costs and offering greater connectivity.
To sustain growth and meet new demand, PSA Singapore Terminals said
it will add 15 new berths at Pasir Panjang Terminal over the next
five to seven years.
It currently has 37 container berths.
The 15 new berths are expected to boost PSA Singapore's annual
handling capacity of around 20 million TEUs to 31 million
TEUs.
Apart from Singapore, PSA's overseas arm - PSA International - also
runs 16 ports in 11 countries across Europe, India, China, South
Korea, southeast Asia and Japan.
PSA International's overseas expansion recently suffered a setback
when rivals ousted it from one of Hong Kong's port terminals. -
CNA
So, if I am not wrong, Dec vol was at 1.81M