16 January 2023 (Lloyd's List) - VOLUMES handled at terminals operated by Singapore’s PSA International dipped slightly last year as container throughput began to pull back from the peak of pandemic-driven demand. Total liftings fell by 0.7% to 90.9m teu across the portfolio, with the burden shared equally by the company’s flagship PSA Singapore falling to 37m teu and its international operations falling to 53.9m teu. Despite the declines, PSA’s volumes remain well above 2020 levels of 86.6m teu after a record-breaking year in 2021 that saw a peak of 91.5m teu. “The world experienced another challenging year in 2022 and although most countries were emerging from the global pandemic, many continued to suffer from the negative aftershocks which were compounded by the war in Ukraine, higher energy prices, global inflation and supply chain disruptions,” said PSA group chief executive Tan Chong Men. The outlook remained challenging for the year ahead, he added. “The world is experiencing deep transitions towards new realities and while these times of change can be uneasy, PSA stands steady against the headwinds that may come our way as we continue to build on our core business of ports and — coupled with the acquisition of BDP International last year — widen our focus in enabling more agile, resilient and sustainable supply chains. “We will partner closely alongside our customers, partners and stakeholders to future-proof our journey ahead, and continue in our mission to be a supply-chain orchestrator, realise an Internet of Logistics and bring about more sustainable global trade.”