Mainland China accounted for 22.6 per cent of global container throughput in 2008, according to data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The inclusion of Hong Kong pushed its share to over a quarter.

World container throughput increased by some 4 per cent to 506m TEU. This decelerated rate of growth occurred at a time when the supply of vessels continued to rise, thereby suppressing shipping rates. “This growth was the result of vessel orders placed before the financial crisis, when the industry was still expecting continuing high growth rates in demand − which did not materialise,” said the UNCTAD report.