Global consumer demand dictates the flow of container shipping, so if you want to know where trade is heaviest, follow the container.
So, let's us have a look at the world's busiest ports measured in terms of cargo shipped in standard containers, or TEUs (20-foot equivalent units).
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World's 10 busiest ports!
1. Singapore
Container traffic: 25.8 million TEUs
The world's busiest port handles more than 25.8 million TEUs.
Although the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore reported a 10 per cent jump in March in 2010 from a year earlier, the 2.4 million containers shipped that month is still below the port's highest monthly record of 2.7 million TEUs reached in July 2008.
The port's main operator, PSA International, is state-owned and runs five of the port's six terminals.
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World's 10 busiest ports!
2. Shanghai, China
Container traffic: 25 million TEUs
China became the world's biggest exporter after surpassing Germany in 2009, and Shanghai was its busiest port with just over 25 million TEUs passing through its facilities.
The country's biggest port operator, Shanghai International Port Group, posted a profit of $149 million in the first quarter of 2010 after its container throughput rose 15.5 per cent.
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World's 10 busiest ports!
3. Hong Kong, China
Container traffic: 21 million TEUs
Controlled by the billionaire Li Ka-shing, Hutchison Port Holdings is the world's largest container port operator with terminals in six of the nine busiest ports around the world.
In Hong Kong, it operates 12 berths through its subsidiary and another two through a joint venture with Cosco.
Hong Kong handles more than 21 million containers.
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World's 10 busiest ports!
4. Shenzhen, China
Container traffic: 18 million TEUs
The second-busiest port on the mainland has been expanding its market share in southern China at the expense of Hong Kong due to its proximity to the factories along the Pearl River Delta.
China Merchants Holdings is the largest container port operator in Shenzhen, which processed over 18 million containers in 2009.
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World's 10 busiest ports!
5. Busan, South Korea
Container traffic: 13.2 million TEUs
South Korea's busiest port handles more than 13.2 million containers.
Since 1978, Busan has opened three container ports, including Jaseungdae, Shinsundae, and Gamman.
The port, run by Hanjin Shipping, the country's largest container line, can handle up to 13.2 million TEU shipping containers per year.
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World's 10 busiest ports!
6. Guangzhou, China
Container traffic: 11.1 million TEUs
The third port from a southern Chinese city in the Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou saw more than 11.1 million TEUs pass through its facilities in 2010.
The largest operator is the state-owned Guangzhou Port Group.
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World's 10 busiest ports!
7. Dubai, the UAE
Container traffic: 11.1 million TEUs
DP World, the world's fourth-biggest container-terminal operator, is controlled by Dubai World, the state-owned holding company that had to restructure $23.5 billion of debt.
In 2009, 11.1 million containers passed through Dubai's port.
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World's 10 busiest ports!
8. Ningbo, China
Container traffic: 10.5 million TEUs
More than 10.5 million containers were handled by Ningbo Port, which competes with its much larger and nearby rival Shanghai International Port.
Unlike Shanghai, the port is deepwater and capable of handling 300,000 tonne vessels.
With bulk container breakdowns, hugely improved logistics, and massive chemical and foodstuff, processing developments, Ningbo could yet win the race with Shanghai as port of choice for servicing the Chinese east coast.
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World's 10 busiest ports!
9. Qingdao, China
Container traffic: 10.2 million TEUs
Dry-bulk carriers lining up at ports like Qingdao and Newcastle in Australia reflect the growing demand for raw materials.
Qingdao's container terminals process more than 10.2 million TEUs.
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World's 10 busiest ports!
10. Rotterdam, Netherlands
Container traffic: 10 million TEUs
Europe's largest port reported that container throughput rose 16 per cent to 2.6 million TEUs due largely to Asian trade.
More than 10 million containers pass through Rotterdam. From 1962 until 2004 it was the world's busiest port.
Covering 105 square kilometres, the port of Rotterdam now stretches over a distance of 40 kilometres.
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