Despite upheaval in the global economy and significantly reduced container throughput ,especially at the world's top ports, Singapore is still the world's busiest container port ahead of Shanghai, judging by statistics from both port authorities.

Wang Hongquan, vice-director for the Shanghai Transport and Port Authority, was this week quoted saying that Shanghai's container throughput for 2009 will be about 24 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

According to statistics from the Shanghai International Port Group, container throughput at Shanghai for this year up till November has been 22.6 million TEUs.

Singapore however, handled more over the first 11 months of this year with throughput of 23.6 million TEUs, data from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) shows.

And given that the island-state port handled an average of more than two million TEUs per month this year, Singapore is set to surpass Shanghai's 2009 figure of 24 million TEUs and head into 2010 retaining its status as the world's busiest container port.

Industry observers have since 2006 mostly forecast Shanghai to overtake Singapore as the world's busiest container port by as early as 2008 or this year.

“The economic crisis which was in full force late last year however, has ironically ensured that Singapore retains its top position for the time being,” a liner executive told Portworld on Wednesday.

Estimates have pegged container throughput at both ports to have shrunk a dramatic 14-15% this year compared to 2008 levels.