The volume of containerised traffic globally saw a strong rebound in 2010, at an estimated 560 million TEUs, up by an all-time high of 14.5 per cent year-on-year after experiencing a 8.9 per cent decline in 2009, according to Exim News Service.

Last year’s recovery was mostly attributed to the growing volume through Chinese ports, reported maritime analyst Alphaliner. Total container volumes handled in China, including Hong Kong, grew by 17.9 per cent to 169 million TEUs. This accounted for 30.1 per cent of the global throughput, a year-on-year increase of 29.3 per cent.

China has nine of the world's top 20 box ports which are growing faster than similar facilities elsewhere.

South America is the second-fastest growing container volume region with increase in throughput by 17.6 per cent in 2010. Among the top 50 ports worldwide, the average growth in container volume was 15 per cent to 363 million TEUs in 2010 compared to 316 million TEUs in 2009. Only three ports recorded a loss.

Hong Kong’s Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) regained its global lead with total volumes increasing by 14.9 per cent to 75 million TEUs in 2010. The runner-up was Hague-based APM Terminals with a growth of two per cent to an estimated 70 million TEUs. China Merchants Holdings International (CMHI) posted the highest growth of 19.2 per cent year-on-year with total volume of 52.3 million TEUs in 2010.