Main Southeast Asian ports saw a year-on-year increase in their throughput in the third quarter of 2024. The volume of moves also increased while the number of vessels calling decreased in both large- and medium-sized port sample groups.

S&P Global Market Intelligence said in a new report that the average call size at main Southeast Asian ports increased year on year (y/y) in the third quarter of 2024.

Meanwhile, the large ports that handle more than 4 million TEUs per year experienced a 3% y/y increase collectively, and the medium ports, handling between 0.5 million and 4 million TEUs per year each, saw a 7% y/y growth as a group.

Malaysia's Port Klang showed the largest relative increase among large ports (up 38% y/y) and Vietnam's Da Nang among medium ports (up 32% y/y).

S&P added that Singapore and Port Klang experienced a notable decrease in their vessel calls in Q3 2024 compared to the same period last year (Singapore 16% lower y/y, Port Klang drop of 44% y/y).

The medium-sized port sample experienced a 4% y/y decline as a group.

"Operational performance declined in both sample groups," S&P said. It added that port-moves-per-hour (PMPH), berth-moves-per-hour (BMPH) and vessel waiting times showed worse performance in Q3 2024 compared to a year ago.

It said that only the medium port group saw a year-on-year improvement of 7% in their BMPH.

"Import container dwell time improved at most large ports. However, most medium ports saw a year-on-year rise in their import dwell time," S&P said, adding that export dwell time rose at both large and medium ports.

"Most ports from both sample groups ended the third quarter with lower transhipment dwell time than at the start of the quarter," it added.