1 billion TEU higher transshipment at container terminals in 2025. Another record will be set in 2026 [ANALYSIS]
By Global container port transshipment volumes exceeded 1 billion TEU in 2025, an 8% increase compared to the previous year, according to the latest “Millionaires” report prepared by DynaLiners analysts. Current information from terminal operators and liner shipping companies on container supply in maritime transport indicates that another record will be broken in 2026.
An analysis of the activity of 171 ports with container terminals with transshipment volumes exceeding 1 million TEU shows that over 1 billion TEU were transshipped in 2025. The global container supply at seaports is estimated to have increased to 1.012 billion TEU from 937.3 million TEU in 2024. In 2023, demand for container transshipment at ports reached 876 million TEU, according to DynaLiners analysts.
Despite the increase in container terminal utilization at large ports, experts at DynaLiners state that “their share of estimated global container port throughput fell from 89% in 2024 to 87% in 2025. Ports outside the million-TEU ports group grew significantly faster.” As a result, total quay-to-ship transshipment increased by 21% to 128.3 million TEU, up from 106.4 million TEU a year earlier.
Analysis of data collected at ports indicates that the increase in global container supply to ships in 2025 resulted from the increased utilization of smaller ports. Smaller ports and smaller terminals responded more quickly to market needs. Shippers were more likely to direct cargo to smaller container ports. This was likely due to the fact that ships encountered less congestion at smaller terminals. Optimization of container transport also played a role. Large operators shifted their focus in 2025 to serving smaller ports through hubs and short sea shipping networks.
The Far East Dominates
The Far East has dominated container transshipment for years. Asian ports have maintained their clear leadership position in container trade. The region boasts a significant number of ports handling over one million TEU. Due to their export activity, APAC countries utilized as many as 63 “millionaire” ports for expansion, which together handled 531.2 million TEU in 2025.
Asia’s trade activity resulted in a 6% year-on-year increase in containerized cargo supply. DynaLiners analysts note that “Chinese port statistics may include significant volumes of river containerized cargo.”
North America ranked second with a supply of 70 million TEU across 19 ports. Northern European container terminals handled 60.5 million TEUs across 14 ports. The highest growth in container supply and the strongest percentage increase in transshipment were recorded in other regions. African container ports recorded the highest growth in transshipment last year, up 12%. This, according to DynaLiners, resulted from strong investment activity and the dynamics of African economies, leading to container terminals handling 39.3 million TEUs.
Latin America ranked next, with an 11% increase in container supply. Here, the supply of seaborne and export containers increased to 45.3 million TEUs. The Indian subcontinent saw a 10% increase to 35.3 million TEUs. The Middle East increased container turnover at seaports by 8% to 44.6 million TEUs.
Global container port throughput is expected to reach an estimated 1.012 billion TEU in 2025. Source: DynaLiners “Millionaires” Report. Graphics: Container News, https://container-news.com.
“China’s container port system is unparalleled: Shenzhen, Qingdao, the port of Guangzhou, and Tianjin are among the top ten, demonstrating the strength of integrated production zones, advanced terminal automation, and efficient connectivity with the hinterland,” emphasizes CommodityTrading.club.
Chinese ports constitute logistical hubs that enable accelerated cargo flows and high-capacity trade corridors “serving the energy, metals, agriculture, electronics, and consumer goods sectors.” It should be noted that these ports primarily serve as a gateway for the transfer of modern technologies to European Union countries.
Container cranes in China are critical equipment for loading significant volumes of component supplies for the European automotive, household appliance, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. European renewable energy industries are operating, and a large portion of dual-use industries are operating thanks to the efficient operation of container terminals in China.
Shanghai Leads the Way
Shanghai remains the world’s container port with the highest turnover. Shanghai maintained its leading position in the global port rankings after handling 55.06 million TEU in 2025, a 7% increase compared to 51.51 million TEU in 2024. It is expected that in 2026, the Port of Shanghai’s container cranes will operate even more intensively than last year, and the port will break another record in transshipment.
According to data from terminal management, China’s largest port saw a 2.7% increase in transshipment in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, reaching 30.48 million tons. Container supply in Shanghai was even more dynamic. STS crane throughput increased by 6.2% in the first six months of the year, reaching 28.74 million TEU.
Ports of the People’s Republic of China and their Industrial Infrastructure. Source: Wan Yu, Lin Gang, Liu Mingwu, “Synergy of Ports and Cities in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and the Influencing Factors,” “Systems Science & Control Engineering,” January 2021, 9(1):623-630.
This significant growth is evidence of the continuing dynamics of economic exchange between China and other regions of the world. It also reflects the growing dependence of many countries’ economies on Chinese products. In 2025, the Port of Shanghai handled approximately 811.5 million tons of cargo, and container throughput exceeded 55 million TEU. The port maintains its position as a leading global container hub, ensuring the supply of goods to all key trade routes connecting Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America.
The city government’s strategy predicts that by 2030, “Shanghai should become an international shipping hub characterized by improved connectivity, quality and convenience of services, intelligent and low-carbon transformation, stable management, and strong resource allocation capabilities,” as quoted by Shi Jing from chinadaily.com.cn.
The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) assumes that container throughput at Shanghai’s terminals should significantly exceed 50 million TEU. Revenue will also be generated by insurance against environmental risks for ships docking in Shanghai. Insurance revenues should increase from 2.3 billion yuan ($339.6 million) to 10 billion yuan. The annual value of shipping arbitration cases is expected to reach 3 billion yuan, Shi Jing estimated.
Management plans to automate operations at terminals handling 15 million TEU over the next five years. In line with the green port development plans, the bunkering capacity for sustainable marine fuel will increase, and LNG bunkering under concessions will reach 1 million cubic meters.
Singapore second, Ningbo third
Beyond China, Singapore’s importance as a global transshipment hub is undeniable, as CommodityTrading.club notes. It highlights the port’s strong transfer position, connecting “East with West, North with South, and key, strategic [maritime – MG] critical passages such as the Strait of Malacca.”
Port of Singapore, 2026 results, source: Singapore Port Authority
Singapore retained its second position and became the world’s second largest container port. With throughput increasing by 9%, container terminals handled 44.66 million TEU. The first half of this year promises another record.
The Italian portal InforMare.it found that “In the first half of 2026, the Port of Singapore handled 307.9 million tons of cargo, representing a 2.4% increase compared to the first half of last year.” In the first half of 2026, container throughput reached 22.7 million TEU, up 4.7% from the first half of 2025.
DynaLiners calculated that Ningbo ranked third, recording one of the highest growth rates among the world’s largest ports. At this port, container supply at quays increased by 12% to 43.87 million TEU. The Ningbo Port Authority is announcing another record in transshipment.
Another record is on the horizon for 2026. In the first quarter of 2026, the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port achieved a total cargo supply of approximately 370 million tons, representing a 4.1% year-on-year increase. 11.55 million TEU of containers were moved through the port’s container terminals, a 14.7% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
In June of this year alone, 4.66 million TEU were moved between quays and ships, achieving a 2.6% year-on-year increase. In the first half of 2026, the port expects cumulative container throughput at its terminals to reach 27.7 million TEU, representing an 8.7% year-on-year increase, reports Binance Square, citing Jin10.
Container Dominance
Shenzhen maintained fourth place with 35.41 million TEU, representing a 6% increase. The first half of 2026 also saw a surge in containerized cargo supply at this port. As a result, the Port of Shenzhen in southern China’s Guangdong Province handled over 14.3 million TEU of international trade containers in the first five months of the year. This represents a 7.17% year-on-year increase and is a record result for the same period, reported Bastille Post Global. The port is connected to the world via 280 shipping services. Ships from Shenzhen reach over 300 ports. This places the port first among ports in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in terms of both container throughput and liner services to major markets.
Container terminals propelled Qingdao Port to fifth place in 2025, with 32.89 million TEU. Compared to 2024, container throughput increased by 7%. In the first half of 2026, Qingdao Port achieved container throughput of 17.56 million TEU. In 2026, container supply increased by 7.2% year-on-year. According to ShippingGazette.com, this is due to liner service operators “launching 16 new container services this year, and the volume of exports from northern China increased significantly.”
A total of 19 ports handled over 10 million TEUs during the year, reports DynaLiners, estimating that this group included Antwerp, Busan, Dubai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Laem Chabang, Los Angeles, Ningbo, Port Klang, Qingdao, Rotterdam, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, Suzhou, Tangier, Tanjung Pelepas, Tianjin, and Xiamen.
Meanwhile, Busan is strengthening its leadership position in Northeast Asia, and Jabal Ali remains a key logistics hub in the Middle East. CommodityTrading.club emphasizes the important role of ports in these countries, noting, “driving regional re-exports and value-added services. Port Klang (15.14 million TEU in 2025) also strengthens Southeast Asia’s competitiveness in global supply chains.”
Container Transshipment at China’s Ports 2019-2025. Source: Andman Partners
China Leads the Millionaires’ Market
China is the undisputed leader in the container market and the largest domestic market in the DynaLiners ranking. The country’s 30 ports, handling over 1 million TEU, generated a combined supply of 306.4 million TEU in 2025. This represents a 6% increase from 287.8 million TEU in the previous year. The United States ranked second, with 13 ports included in the DynaLiners ranking. These ports handled a total of 55.55 million TEU.
Despite tariff wars and non-tariff restrictions on US trade with other countries, US ports achieved a 4% increase in container transshipment. Singapore, as a country, ranked third with 44.66 million TEU moved. DynaLiners experts ranked Malaysian ports next with 31.6 million TEUs and container terminals serving the South Korean economy (30.39 million TEUs).
Vietnam was a significant growth market in 2025. Vietnamese ports with a throughput of over 4 million TEUs handled a total of 25.88 million TEUs. In 2025, they achieved an 11% increase in container supply compared to 2024. India recorded a 12% increase, reaching nearly 20 million TEUs in the four ports qualified by DynaLiners.
In 2025, twelve ports joined the million TEU club, including Gdynia. DynaLiners lists Aqaba, Baltimore, Dar es Salaam, Dong Nai/Phuoc An, El Sokhna, Gdynia, Huanghua, Manaus, Rio Grande, Tanjung Emas, Vizhinjam, and Wilhelmshaven. It notes that Montevideo was the only port to drop out of the group.
A total of 135 of the 171 ports recorded positive growth during the year. Fourteen ports increased their throughput by at least 25%, while 36 ports saw lower transshipment. Haikou saw a 28% reduction in container supply. It was the only container port to see a decline of more than 25%.
Analysis of the container terminal market indicates that the supply of container cargo continues to be dynamic. This also impacts the demand for empty containers. DynaLiners also includes transshipments in its market analyses. One significant finding is that “ports below the 1 million TEU threshold collectively grew significantly faster than the millionaire ports.”
A market analysis conducted by DynaLiners clearly illustrates that the deglobalization announced during COVID-19 has failed. Tariff wars and non-tariff restrictions have also failed to significantly change the situation. An imbalance in the transport of loaded and empty containers is clearly visible. The introduction of mega-container ships to the market is fostering the development of smaller ports. The development of hub ports with well-developed short sea shipping networks is becoming more widespread. Hub-and-spoke technology benefits smaller ports.
Top 10 portów według przeładunków globalnych i kontenerów TEU. Źródło: Ministerstwo transportu ChRL, grafika: China.org.cn