Singapore ended 2021 on a high note reporting record container throughput last year — while retaining its crown as the world's busiest transshipment and bunkering port.

The Port of Singapore remained open and connected to the world in 2021 despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, reporting the port performance which saw a "record high" container throughput of 37.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

Bunker sales also remained strong at the port, crossing 50 million tonnes for only the second time.

Record-high container throughput

"Singapore remains the world's busiest container transhipment port, handling a record high of 37.5 million TEUs of container throughput in 2021," the port said in a statement.

In total, Singapore handled 599 million tonnes of cargo in 2021 and vessel arrival reached 2.81 billion gross tonnage (GT).

Singapore also kept its position as the top bunkering port, registering total bunker sales volume of 50.04 million tonnes in 2021: 49.99 million tonnes in conventional bunkers sales and 0.05 million tonnes in LNG bunker sales — adding that Singapore commenced regular ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operations from March 2021 and will continue to diversify our fuel offerings in line with our push for maritime decarbonisation.

S Iswaran, minister for transport and minister-in-charge of trade relations, made the announcement of the 2021 performance of the Port of Singapore at the Singapore Maritime Foundation New Year Conversations event held on January 13.

He also outlined the four thrusts – resilience, digitalisation, decarbonisation and talent – that will guide the government’s efforts to advance the maritime sector and consultations with the industry and unions on the refreshed Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map.  

"Maritime Singapore has shown itself to be resilient despite the challenges of the pandemic over the past two years. I am confident that the continued strong tripartite partnership between the Government, industry and unions will see us through the recovery phase and allow Maritime Singapore to emerge even stronger," Iswaran said.

During the event, the Minister also announced that the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) awarded close to S$3 million of funding to eight projects involving 35 companies working together to accelerate the development of digital products and solutions for the bunkering sector.

These projects are part of the first industry transformation map to digitalise the maritime industry, and will support the effort of SGTraDex in data sharing across bunkering stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Singapore Registry of Ships also retained its distinction as amongst the world's top Registries.

Singapore said the total tonnage of ships under the Singapore flag stood at 92.3 million GT, as of December 2021.