One of the world's busiest ports, Singapore, told that in the year 2009 it handled 13.5 percent less container traffic from the last year as the global downturn squeezed world trade.

Late Thursday, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said in a statement that previous year the city-state held 25.9 million standard six-metre (20-foot) container units, losing from 29.9 million in 2008.

The port authority said that the total cargo tonnage decreased by 8.6% to 469.6 million tones.

Transport Minister Raymond Lim said in a speech late Thursday, "We had to contend with global economic uncertainties, falling freight rates and tightening liquidity. Singapore's cargo and container throughputs dipped, alongside that of the other major ports."

Singapore is seen as a regional trading port for transporting good, with shippers using the city-state as a transit point.