June 18 - According to an Alphaliner report, the world's top 25 container ports handled an estimated 75 million teu in the first quarter, up six per cent year on year.

The world's top port of Shanghai handled 7.57 million teu in the first quarter, meaning the mainland port has hung on to its top spot as the world's busiest box port.

Close behind at 7.54 million teu was Singapore, with Hong Kong handling 5.7 million teu in the first quarter.

The only major port to suffer a decline in container throughput was Rotterdam which Alphaliner said was because the financial crisis in Europe slowed growth of imports and reduced the number of empty containers handled at the port.

www.portshanghai.com.cn

www.alphaliner.com