Global container port throughput 2012-2025

In 2021, global container throughput reached approximately 849 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This represented an increase of some seven percent compared with the previous year.

Container shipping in the context of global seaborne trade

The global economy is becoming more and more interconnected every year, driving the staggering demand for transportation of goods across regions and value chains. Since its development in the mid-20th century, container shipping enabled a standardized method of freight transportation that made it safe and efficient to transport goods overseas. To facilitate this process, industrialized nations developed container ports across export-oriented regions. In 2021, the biggest container port worldwide based on throughput was Shanghai. In the same year, most of the largest container ports globally were located around Asia.

Impact of COVID-19 on global container shipping

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak inflicted a deep shock on the global economy. As many countries imposed lock-downs, industrial production slowed down, causing major cancellations in supply chain routes and affecting seaborne logistics as well. Port congestions have become commonplace and container ships have been arriving in their destinations with significant delays. As a result, in February 2022, some 11.6 percent of the global container ship capacity was not utilized.