Singapore-based Container Terminal Operator #1 in 2010

PSA is the world’s busiest container terminal operator in 2010, beating Hutchison Port Holdings to first place, according to new research.

Drewry Maritime Research’s Global Container Terminal Operators’ annual report revealed that PSA, the busiest container operator so far this year, handled a total 51.3 million teu in 2010 – 9.4% of total world throughput.

Hutchison came second after handling 36 million teu, or 6.6% of total global throughput, DP World was third, with 32 million teu, and APM Terminals fourth, with 31 million teu.

In total, the top 10 terminal operators accounted for 40% of world throughput in 2010, or 219 million teu.

The Top 10 container terminal operators according to Drewry's Survey:
1.PSA (51.3 million TEU)
2. Hutchison Port Holdings (36 million TEU)
3. DP World (32.6 million TEU)
4. APM Terminals (31.6 million TEU)
5. Shanghai International Ports Group (19.5 million TEU)
6. Cosco (13.6 million TEU)
7. MSC (9.9 million TEU)
8. China Merchants (8.9 million TEU)
9. Ports America (8.1 million TEU)
10.Modern Terminals (8.0 million TEU)

Drewry said that one of the most surprising findings from the report was the strength of the regional players.

Neil Davidson, Drewry’s Senior Advisor, Ports, said: “We have decided to add a new analysis of the industry to this year’s report, giving a broader perspective than just focusing on those operators that we class as ‘global’.

“There are many other significant terminal operators around the world, a number of which have international ambitions.

“This new league table puts them into perspective and highlights the sheer scale of ‘local’ operators such as Shanghai International Ports Group (SIPG), China Merchants and Modern Terminals.”

Of the local operators mentioned by Davidson, SIPG ranked fifth overall (19.5 million teu), China Merchants eighth (8.9 million teu) and Modern Terminals tenth (8 million teu).

(Source:IFW and Drewry)