Global Container Volumes to Shoot Up

Volumes of handled cargo at container ports are expected to accelerate considerably on annual level, according to UK-based shipping consultants Drewry.

By 2018, the world’s container ports are forecast to handle more than 840 million teu a year, which is  double the 2004 throughput figure of 363m teu, Drewry said in their 11th Global Container Terminal Operators Annual Review and Forecast report.

As explained by Drewry, the volume growth accompanied by profit it brings is attracting aggressive new players to enter the container terminal-operator business.

Overall , growth rates are expected to average an annual 5.6% in the five years to 2018, compared with 3.4% in 2013.

Drewry added that will boost average terminal utilisation from 67% today to 75% in 2018.

The growth trend is attributed to the introduction of “ever-bigger ships, expansion of shipping-line alliances, financial pressures on shipping lines, rapidly emerging international terminal operators and owners, financial investor churn, as well as the gathering pace of terminal automation.”

Africa and Greater China are forecast to see the biggest growth trend.

There were slight changes in the composition of the top five terminal players, with regard to their equity teu throughput. According to Drewry,  PSA has remained at the top, by virtue of its scale and 20% stake in Hutchison Port Holdings which follows in the second place. APM Terminals is third, followed by DP World.

” By 2018 HPH and APM Terminals are expected to be vying closely for the top spot in terms of capacity deployed. Most portfolio expansion will be through greenfield or brownfield terminals in emerging markets, led by APM Terminals, International Container Terminal Services, HPH and DP World,” forecasts Drewry.