Global ocean container traffic reached an all-time high of 560 million 20-foot equivalent units in 2010, driven by surging volume at Chinese ports, according to Alphaliner.

This followed a record year-on-year increase of 14.5 percent over 2009, when the first annual drop in the history of containerization shrunk overall port traffic 8.9 percent, the Paris-based analyst said.

Chinese ports, including Hong Kong, boosted throughput 17.9 percent to 169 million TEUs, to increase their world market share to 30.1 percent in 2010 from 29.3 percent in the previous year.

China now accounts for nine of the world's top 20 container ports with most of its ports recording faster growth than ports in other regions.

South America was the second fastest growing region with its ports increasing box traffic 17.6 percent in 2010.

The top 50 ports grew container volumes an average of 15 percent in 2010 and only two suffered minor losses.

Volumes handled by the top global terminal operators tracked growth in the overall market with Chinese-based firms booking the biggest gains.

Hong Kong's Hutchison Port Holdings regained global leadership with total volumes rising 14.9 percent to 75 million TEUs in 2010.

Second ranked APM Terminals lost ground as growth slowed to a below average of only two percent to an estimated 70 million TEUs.

Alphaliner expects growth in 2011 to slow to 8.4 percent as volumes return to more sustainable levels.

Chinese ports are again set to lead the gains.