Big ships will stop at only four or five destinations in Europe, raising the stakes for ports trying to win their custom, according to Neil Davidson of Drewry Shipping Consultants.

德鲁里航运咨询公司的尼尔·戴维森认为，大船在欧洲只会选择四五个目的地停靠，这增加了港口努力赢取大船惠顾的不确定性。

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Shipping companies that operate the main container services linking Asia, America and Europe will lose about $20 billion this year, after making only $5 billion profit in 2008, according to Drewry.

根据德鲁里的研究数据，经营亚洲、美洲和欧洲集装箱航线的航运公司在2008年只赚取了50亿美元的利润，今年将亏损200亿美元。

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This is likely to put severe pressure on China's fast-growing ports, says a joint study by Drewry and APL, a shipping line.

ECONOMIST: On a roll

In the past, says Drewry Shipping Consultants, the container trade has increased by between two-and-a-half and three times the rate of GDP growth.

ECONOMIST: On a roll

Drewry Shipping Consultants estimates that nearly half the ships due to be delivered last year are still sitting on the slipway or the drawing board.

ECONOMIST: Shipping in the downturn