Maritime ports and developments in shipping

Figure IV-1 shows worldwide growth in maritime and container trade volumes over the period 1985 to 2010. In both cases, volumes dropped sharply in 2009 as the impact of the Global Financial Crisis made itself felt in the real economy, but recovered in 2010 to pre-crisis levels. Total international maritime trade volumes grew at an average of 3.3 per cent per annum over the period 1985 to 2010, with the result that by 2010 total seaborne trade more than doubled 1985 volumes. Containerized cargoes have grown at an annual average rate of 8.8 per cent over that same period, resulting in more than an eight-fold increase in containerized cargo movements. Data compiled by UNCTAD suggests that in 2009, the developing economies of Asia accounted for 39 per cent of the total volume of maritime cargo loaded, and 40 per cent of the maritime cargo discharged (Figure IV-2).

Related Subject(s): Transportation and Public Safety