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Singapore Sets New Records for Port Traffic and Container Handling in 2024

Singapore Sets New Records for Port Traffic and Container Handling in 2024

The nation’s port saw impressive growth in vessel arrivals, cargo handling, and alternative fuel sales. Singapore’s port achieved remarkable milestones in 2024, setting new records for both vessel arrivals and container handling. The port recorded 3.11 billion gross tonnes in ship traffic, surpassing the previous record of 3.09 billion gross tonnes in 2023. This metric,

The nation’s port saw impressive growth in vessel arrivals, cargo handling, and alternative fuel sales.

Singapore’s port achieved remarkable milestones in 2024, setting new records for both vessel arrivals and container handling. The port recorded 3.11 billion gross tonnes in ship traffic, surpassing the previous record of 3.09 billion gross tonnes in 2023. This metric, which reflects the internal volume of ships arriving at the port, is a key indicator of maritime activity.

The port also handled a record-breaking 41.12 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of shipping containers in 2024, up from 39.01 million TEUs in the previous year. These figures were revealed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) at the Singapore Maritime Foundation’s New Year Conversations event on January 15.

As the world’s second-busiest container port, Singapore also achieved significant records in other sectors, including bunker fuel sales and the tonnage of Singapore-registered ships. Additionally, MPA reported that reclamation work for the second phase of Tuas mega port is progressing, with 75% of the phase completed and 11 operational berths. The mega port, once fully completed, will be the world’s largest fully automated port by the 2040s.

Despite these impressive figures, total cargo handled in 2024 (622.67 million tonnes) fell short of the pre-pandemic level of 626.52 million tonnes recorded in 2019. However, the port’s bunker fuel sales hit a new high of 54.92 million tonnes, marking a 6% increase from 2023. This surge in bunker fuel sales is partly attributed to extended shipping routes between Asia and Europe due to disruptions in the Red Sea.

Singapore’s port also made significant strides in the sale of alternative bunker fuels, with biofuel blends rising from 0.52 million tonnes in 2023 to 0.88 million tonnes in 2024. Additionally, liquefied natural gas sales grew from 0.11 million tonnes to 0.46 million tonnes. MPA also marked a historic first with the bunkering of ammonia (9.74 tonnes) and the commercial availability of methanol (1,626 tonnes) at the port.

In 2024, Singapore-registered ships surpassed 100 million gross tonnes for the first time, reaching 108 million gross tonnes, an increase from 99.6 million gross tonnes in 2023. Meanwhile, maritime firms under MPA’s supervision invested $5.2 billion in the sector, up from $4.8 billion in the previous year.

Looking ahead, MPA anticipates continued growth in Singapore’s maritime sector in 2025, though it cautions that geopolitical factors and shifting trade patterns may influence the global shipping landscape. Notably, the rise of regional supply chains and the expansion of Asian ports are expected to contribute to the growth of Singapore’s maritime industry.

The MPA also highlighted advancements in sustainability, such as the upcoming announcement of a lead developer for a low- or zero-carbon ammonia power generation solution on Jurong Island. Furthermore, trials for the use of artificial intelligence in issuing insurance certificates for Singapore-registered ships are underway, with full implementation expected by mid-2025.

Andy Thomas
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