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.