Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority reports that the city-state handled 39.7 million TEUs in 2024, edging out Shanghai as the world’s busiest transshipment hub. The milestone reflects Singapore’s strategic investments in automation and terminal capacity.
Expansion Projects Paying Off
The Tuas mega-port project added 20 million TEUs of annual capacity when Phase 1 opened last year. Automated guided vehicles and remote-controlled cranes enable 24-hour operations with minimal labor constraints.
Strategic Location Advantage
Singapore sits at the crossroads of Asia-Europe and transpacific trade lanes. Vessels can bunker, transship cargo, and conduct crew changes without deviating from major shipping routes. Average port stay is under 24 hours.
Competition Ahead
Malaysian ports at Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas are aggressively pursuing transshipment business with lower handling fees. Singapore counters with superior connectivity and reliability metrics that justify premium pricing.
Port officials project volume growth of 3-4% annually through 2030.
