Ranked by Annual Container Throughput (Million TEU)

Container ports are the backbone of global trade, connecting manufacturers, exporters, and consumers across continents. In 2025, Asian ports continued to dominate global maritime transportation, with China maintaining its position as the world’s largest container shipping powerhouse.

Ranked by annual container throughput measured in TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), these are the world’s busiest container ports in 2025.

Top 10 Container Ports by Throughput in 2025

Rank	Port	Country	Throughput (Million TEU)	YoY Growth	Key Role
1	Shanghai Port	China 🇨🇳	55.06M	+6.9%	Global container leader for 16 consecutive years
2	Port of Singapore	Singapore 🇸🇬	44.66M	+8.6%	World’s largest transshipment hub
3	Ningbo-Zhoushan Port	China 🇨🇳	43.87M	+11.6%	Fast-growing port combining containers and bulk cargo
4	Shenzhen Port	China 🇨🇳	35.41M	+6.0%	Major export gateway for the Pearl River Delta
5	Qingdao Port	China 🇨🇳	32.89M	+6.5%	Northeast Asia automation and rail-sea transport hub
6	Guangzhou Port	China 🇨🇳	27.68M	+6.2%	Southern China’s major domestic container hub
7	Port of Busan	South Korea 🇰🇷	24.88M	+2.0%	Northeast Asia international transshipment center
8	Tianjin Port	China 🇨🇳	24.03M	+3.2%	Main maritime gateway for Beijing and northern China
9	Jebel Ali Port	UAE 🇦🇪	15.60M	+0.4%	Middle East’s largest port and global logistics hub
10	Port Klang	Malaysia 🇲🇾	15.14M	+3.4%	Regional transshipment hub in Southeast Asia

1. Shanghai Port — China 🇨🇳

55.06 Million TEU

Shanghai Port remains the world’s busiest container port, maintaining the No.1 position globally for 16 consecutive years.

Located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, Shanghai benefits from:

The world’s largest manufacturing cluster in the Yangtze River Delta
Strong export industries
Advanced automated container terminals
Extensive international shipping networks

The port is a critical gateway connecting China’s economy with global markets.

2. Port of Singapore — Singapore 🇸🇬

44.66 Million TEU

Singapore remains the world’s most important transshipment hub.

Located along the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, Singapore connects major trade routes between:

Asia
Europe
The Middle East
Africa

More than its domestic trade volume, Singapore’s strength comes from its global container transfer network.

3. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port — China 🇨🇳

43.87 Million TEU

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port recorded one of the strongest growth rates among the world’s largest container ports, increasing 11.6% year over year.

Its advantages include:

Deep-water port facilities
Strong manufacturing connections
Combination of container shipping and bulk cargo operations

It plays an increasingly important role in China’s international trade.

4. Shenzhen Port — China 🇨🇳

35.41 Million TEU

Located in Guangdong Province, Shenzhen Port serves one of the world’s largest manufacturing regions.

The port supports exports of:

Electronics
Technology products
Consumer goods
Electric vehicles

It remains one of China’s most important gateways for global trade.

5. Qingdao Port — China 🇨🇳

32.89 Million TEU

Qingdao Port is a major logistics hub in northern China.

The port is recognized for:

Automated container terminals
Efficient sea-rail transportation
Strong connections with Northeast Asia

It plays an important role in regional supply chains.

6. Guangzhou Port — China 🇨🇳

27.68 Million TEU

Guangzhou Port supports the rapidly growing Greater Bay Area economy.

Its strengths include:

Large domestic container transportation network
Manufacturing industry connections
International shipping routes

It remains one of China’s key southern ports.

7. Port of Busan — South Korea 🇰🇷

24.88 Million TEU

Busan Port is South Korea’s largest container port and one of Northeast Asia’s most important logistics centers.

Its strategic advantages include:

Location between China and Japan
Advanced container facilities
Strong international transshipment operations

8. Tianjin Port — China 🇨🇳

24.03 Million TEU

Tianjin Port is the primary maritime gateway for Beijing and northern China.

The port supports:

Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic region
Industrial exports
International supply chains

9. Jebel Ali Port — United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪

15.60 Million TEU

Located in Dubai, Jebel Ali Port is the largest container port in the Middle East.

Its importance comes from:

Strategic location between Asia and Europe
Dubai’s logistics infrastructure
Free trade zone advantages

It serves as a major connection point between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

10. Port Klang — Malaysia 🇲🇾

15.14 Million TEU

Port Klang has become one of Southeast Asia’s most important container hubs.

Its growth is supported by:

Regional manufacturing expansion
Increasing ASEAN trade
Strategic location near major shipping routes

Key Insights

China Dominates Global Container Shipping

China continues to lead global container transportation.

Among the world’s Top 10 busiest container ports:

6 ports are located in China
China accounts for more than half of the total throughput among the Top 10 ports

This reflects China’s position as the world’s largest manufacturing and exporting economy.

Asia Controls Global Maritime Trade

Asian ports dominate the ranking:

China
Singapore
South Korea
Malaysia

Together, they represent the center of global supply chains.

The World’s Largest Ports Are Becoming More Automated

Modern container ports are investing heavily in:

Artificial intelligence
Automated cranes
Smart logistics systems
Digital supply chain management

Automation is becoming a key competitive advantage for future maritime trade.

What Does TEU Mean?

TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) is the standard measurement used to calculate container shipping volume.

Examples:

1 × 20-foot container = 1 TEU
1 × 40-foot container = 2 TEU

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the world’s busiest container port in 2025?

Shanghai Port, China, ranked first with approximately 55.06 million TEU.

Which country has the most Top 10 container ports?

China, with six ports appearing in the global Top 10 ranking.

Why are Asian ports dominant?

Asia’s dominance comes from:

Manufacturing concentration
Export-oriented economies
Regional supply chain networks
High-volume international trade

Top 10 Busiest Container Ports in the World (2025)