THE ports of Singapore and Shanghai are again neck and neck for the world's top container port title with the latest first quarter figures putting them each at 7.5 million TEU.

Singapore had the title until 2010 when its container throughput was eclipsed by Shanghai's. But in March alone, Singapore's box volumes reached 2.6 million TEU, compared with 2.5 million TEU in the corresponding month last year.

Shanghai container volume in the first quarter was slower year on year, according to the Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG), which did not divulge comparative growth figures.

Chinese shipping industry officials have warned of slowing box throughput at Shanghai port this year, forecasting that turnover in the world's largest container port will be hurt by sluggish trade because of the European debt crisis and weak overseas demand.