The Port of Singapore recorded a slight decline in its container volumes for the first half of 2020 as the shipping industry continues to be impacted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said cargo volumes at the busiest container transhipment hub in the world dipped by 1% in the six months to June reporting container throughput of 17.84 million TEUs, with shipping still impacted by the pandemic.
During the same first-half period in 2019, volumes recorded reached 18.03 million TEUs.
Overall cargo throughput at the port — including containers, conventional, oil and dry bulk cargo — also dropped by 7.3% dip in the first six months of 2020 to 292.4 million tonnes compared to the 315.43 million tonnes recorded during the same period in 2019.
Bunker sales up 3.7%
Meanwhile, despite volumes dipping in the first half, Port of Singapore saw bunker sales rise by 3.7% during the same period.
The world’s largest refuelling hub said bunker fuel sales in the first half of the year reached 24.58 million tonnes, increasing from 23.71 million tonnes sold in the same period in 2019.
The bunker fuel sales increase comes as the IMO 2020 took effect in January, mandating a maximum sulphur content of 0.5% in marine fuels globally in a bid to cut air pollution created by the shipping industry.