OPERATIONAL performance at major Southeast Asian ports declined in the third quarter of 2024 despite an overall increase in container moves and larger average call sizes, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
The S&P Global Market Intelligence findings revealed a mixed picture of higher throughput volumes and reduced vessel traffic.
The average call size at large ports handling over four million TEUs annually rose by 3 percent year-on-year, while medium ports managing between 0.5 million and 4 million TEUs recorded a 7 percent increase.
Malaysia’s Port Klang posted the largest growth among large ports with a 38 percent increase, and Vietnam’s Da Nang led medium ports with a 32 percent rise.
Vessel calls dropped across the region. Singapore registered a 16 percent decline, and Port Klang saw a sharp 44 percent reduction. Medium ports also experienced a 4 percent fall in vessel traffic compared to the same period in 2023.
Operational efficiency weakened overall, with lower port-moves-per-hour (PMPH), berth-moves-per-hour (BMPH), and increased vessel waiting times. Medium ports were the exception, achieving a 7 percent year-on-year improvement in BMPH.
Import dwell times improved at large ports but lengthened at most medium ports. Export dwell times increased for both groups, while transshipment dwell times decreased at most ports by the end of the quarter. These results reflect growing operational challenges in Southeast Asia’s ports despite continued gains in cargo volume.
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