Here's a list of the top 55 container ports in the world, based on the latest 2024 updates. These ports are ranked by container throughput, typically measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which represent the number of standard 20-foot containers a port handles.
TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) are a standard measure used to calculate the capacity of container ships and container ports. A TEU represents the dimensions of a standard shipping container, which is 20 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8.5 feet high. These containers are commonly used in international shipping to transport a wide variety of goods.
The top 53 container ports in 2024
When ports report their throughput in TEUs, they’re measuring the total number of containers (or equivalent volume) handled over a certain period, typically a year. A port's TEU volume is a key indicator of its size and efficiency, as higher TEU numbers generally reflect busier, more significant global trade hubs.For example, a 40-foot container is counted as 2 TEUs, as it's equivalent to two 20-foot containers.
The Port of Shanghai in China, with an impressive capacity of approximately 47.3 million TEUs, has long held the title of the world’s busiest container port. This is largely thanks to China’s massive manufacturing capabilities and strong export activities, allowing it to handle a substantial amount of both international and domestic cargo.
- Address: Shengsi County, Zhoushan, China, 202461
- Province: Zhejiang
The Port of Singapore, with a throughput of around 37.5 million TEUs, is renowned for its strategic location and incredibly efficient operations. As a key transshipment hub, it plays a pivotal role in connecting East Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
- Annual TEU: 37.2 million (2019)
- Built: 1819 (contemporary version)
- Location: Pasir Panjang, Singapore
The Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in China, with a capacity of approximately 33.35 million TEUs, serves as a vital gateway for international trade in the East China region. It efficiently handles a diverse array of cargo types, contributing significantly to the area’s trade activities.
The Port of Shenzhen in China, with an impressive capacity of around 30.04 million TEUs, is strategically located near Hong Kong. It plays a crucial role in China’s export-driven economy by handling significant volumes of containers, making it a key player in international trade.
The Port of Guangzhou in China, with a capacity of approximately 24.2 million TEUs, is a vital port in southern China. It facilitates trade in and out of the Pearl River Delta, one of the most economically active regions in the country, significantly contributing to the local and national economy.
The Port of Busan in South Korea, with a throughput of around 22.9 million TEUs, is the country’s busiest port. It serves as a major transshipment hub in Northeast Asia, efficiently handling goods for the region and facilitating trade beyond its borders.
The Port of Qingdao in China, with a capacity of approximately 21 million TEUs, is a vital port for northern China. It is renowned for its high-efficiency cargo handling and strong connections to the world's major shipping routes, playing an essential role in international trade.
The Port of Hong Kong, with a capacity of around 17.55 million TEUs, has experienced some decline in recent years due to competition from mainland China. Despite this, it continues to be a key player in global trade, maintaining its significance in the international shipping landscape.
The Port of Tianjin, with a capacity of approximately 17.34 million TEUs, is the largest port in northern China. It plays a critical role in the country’s industrial and economic development, serving as a key gateway for trade and commerce in the region.
The Port of Jebel Ali in Dubai, UAE, with a throughput of around 13.7 million TEUs, is the largest port in the Middle East. It serves as a vital hub for trade between Asia, Europe, and Africa, facilitating significant international commerce in the region.
The Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, with a capacity of approximately 14.5 million TEUs, is Europe’s largest port. It serves as a crucial logistics hub, connecting the continent to international markets, particularly excelling in container transshipment and facilitating global trade.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium, with a capacity of around 13.5 million TEUs, is one of Europe’s most important seaports. It handles a significant volume of cargo and boasts extensive connections across the continent, playing a vital role in facilitating international trade.
The Port of Kaohsiung in Taiwan, with a capacity of approximately 9.6 million TEUs, is the country’s largest port. It serves as a significant transshipment hub for trade routes across the Pacific, playing a key role in facilitating international commerce in the region.
The Port of Xiamen in Southeast China, with a throughput of around 11.4 million TEUs, is an important port for both domestic and international trade. It plays a crucial role in facilitating commerce and connecting the region to global markets.
The Port of Los Angeles, with a capacity of approximately 9.9 million TEUs, is the busiest port in the United States. It serves as a vital gateway for trade between the US and Asia, playing a significant role in facilitating international commerce.
The Port of Long Beach, with a throughput of around 9.1 million TEUs, is located adjacent to the Port of Los Angeles. It is another key US port for Pacific trade, efficiently handling a wide range of containerized goods and contributing significantly to international commerce.
The Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia, with a capacity of approximately 10.3 million TEUs, serves as a major transshipment hub for Asia. It is a key competitor to Singapore, playing a significant role in regional trade and logistics.
The Port of New York and New Jersey, with a throughput of around 8.9 million TEUs, is the largest port on the East Coast of the United States. It plays a critical role in the country’s import and export markets, facilitating significant international trade.
The Port of Hamburg, with a capacity of approximately 8.7 million TEUs, is Germany's largest seaport. It is essential for the country's economy, serving as a vital link that connects Europe to global shipping routes and facilitating international trade.
The Port of Laem Chabang in Thailand, with a throughput of around 8.4 million TEUs, is the country’s busiest port. It serves as a major hub for shipping in Southeast Asia, playing a crucial role in regional trade and logistics.
The Port of Algeciras in Spain, with a capacity of approximately 5.7 million TEUs, is a major transshipment hub in the Mediterranean. It connects European, African, and Asian trade routes, facilitating significant international trade across these regions.
The Port of Yokohama in Japan, with a capacity of around 3.4 million TEUs, serves the Tokyo metropolitan area and is one of the country's busiest container ports. It plays a significant role in facilitating trade and commerce in the region.
The Port of Tanjung Priok in Indonesia, with a throughput of approximately 8.2 million TEUs, is the country’s busiest port. It serves as a vital gateway for international trade, playing a crucial role in facilitating commerce and connecting Indonesia to global markets.
The Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka, with a capacity of around 7.8 million TEUs, is a strategic transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean. It connects East and West shipping routes, playing a vital role in facilitating international trade and enhancing regional connectivity.
The Port of Savannah, with a throughput of approximately 6.6 million TEUs, is one of the fastest-growing ports in the United States. It plays a critical role in facilitating trade on the East Coast, contributing significantly to the region's economy and logistics network.
The Port of Valencia in Spain, with a capacity of around 5.6 million TEUs, is the country’s largest port by volume and serves as a major hub in the Mediterranean. It plays a crucial role in facilitating trade and connecting Europe to global shipping routes.
The Port of Piraeus in Greece, with a throughput of approximately 5.4 million TEUs, is the busiest port in the country. It serves as a major transshipment hub in Europe, facilitating significant trade and connecting various international shipping routes.
The Port of Felixstowe in the UK, with a capacity of around 4.5 million TEUs, is the country’s largest container port. It handles a substantial share of the UK's imports and exports, playing a crucial role in facilitating international trade and logistics.
The Port of Santos in Brazil, with a throughput of approximately 4.2 million TEUs, is the largest port in the country. It plays a crucial role in facilitating Brazil's trade with the rest of the world, serving as a key gateway for international commerce.
The Port of Melbourne, with a capacity of around 3.2 million TEUs, is the busiest container port in Australia. It handles a significant portion of the country's international trade, playing a key role in its economy and global shipping connections.
The Port of Ho Chi Minh City, with a throughput of approximately 8 million TEUs, is the largest port in Vietnam. It serves as a key hub for trade in Southeast Asia, playing a crucial role in the region's economic and logistics network.
The Port of Tangier Med in Morocco, with a capacity of around 5.8 million TEUs, is strategically located at the crossroads of Africa and Europe. It is rapidly growing as a major transshipment hub, facilitating international trade between the two continents.
The Port of Dubai (Jebel Ali) in the UAE, with a throughput of around 14.1 million TEUs, is a major trade hub for the Middle East and the world. It serves as a critical connection point for trade between Asia, Europe, and Africa, facilitating global commerce.
The Port of Marsaxlokk in Malta, with a capacity of approximately 3.1 million TEUs, is the largest transshipment port in the central Mediterranean. It plays a vital role in facilitating trade and connecting shipping routes across the region.
The Port of Karachi, with a throughput of around 2.2 million TEUs, is the busiest port in Pakistan. It plays a crucial role in facilitating the country's trade, serving as a key gateway for imports and exports.
The Port of Rotterdam is the largest seaport in Europe, and the world's largest seaport outside of Asia, located in and near the city of Rotterdam, in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. From 1962 until 2004, it was the world's busiest port by annual cargo tonnage.
- Address: 3198 LK Europoort Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Province: South Holland
- Size: 12,713 ha (31,410 acres)
- Opened: 14th century
The Port of Tangshan is an artificial deep-water international seaport located in Tangshan Municipality, Hebei, Northern China. Ranked as the 9th largest port in China, it consists of three separate port areas: Jingtang, Caofeidian, and Fengnan. While each area is administered separately, they are often treated as a single port for statistical purposes. Tangshan is one of the fastest-growing ports globally and is among China's top ten largest ports.
Though the port areas have different UNLocodes, they function collectively for many reporting purposes. The nearest airport is in Tianjin, about two hours away, but a new high-speed train under construction will reduce travel time between Beijing and Tangshan to under two hours.
The Port of Dalian, located in Liaoning Province, is one of China's major seaports and the largest multi-purpose port in Northeast China. Situated at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, it serves as a critical gateway for international trade, particularly with Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The port handles a wide variety of cargo, including containers, crude oil, coal, grain, and automobiles.
Dalian is also an important hub for oil shipments and has extensive facilities for both dry and liquid bulk cargo. Its strategic location, combined with advanced infrastructure, makes it a key port for China’s maritime industry. The port is known for its deep-water terminals and is operational year-round, regardless of weather conditions.
- Address: WMG3+QJ5, Shugang Rd, Zhongshan, Dalian, Liaoning, China, 116007
- Province: Liaoning
The Port of Manzanillo is a seaport located in Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico. This port is one of the busiest ports in Mexico, responsible for handling Pacific Ocean cargo for the Mexico City area.
The port of Manzanillo is located in the state of Colima on the west coast of Mexico. Nowadays, the port is one of the most secure in Mexico. According to the Mexican Secretariat of Economy, the port has attracted the most foreign and domestic private investment in the country.
Vancouver’s port is not only the largest in Canada but also ranks fourth in North America when it comes to cargo tonnage. It connects Canada with over 170 countries around the world. The port is overseen by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, which was formed back in 2008 by merging the old Port of Vancouver, the North Fraser Port Authority, and the Fraser River Port Authority. This authority handles all things related to shipping and port activities in the Metro Vancouver area.
he Port of Nagoya, situated in Ise Bay, holds the title of Japan's largest and busiest trading port, handling about 10% of the country’s total trade value. It’s also Japan's top car export hub, with Toyota Motor Corporation exporting most of its vehicles from here. The port has piers in Nagoya, Tōkai, Chita, Yatomi, and Tobishima.
Interestingly, according to Japanese media, the Kodo-kai, a yakuza faction of the Yamaguchi-gumi group, reportedly controls the stevedoring and warehousing businesses at the port, generating significant revenue from their operations.
The Port of Lianyungang, located in Jiangsu Province, China, is a key international seaport. It's a crucial hub for China’s Belt and Road Initiative, linking maritime and overland trade routes. The port handles a variety of cargo, including bulk goods, containers, and raw materials like coal and iron ore. With strong connections to inland rail networks and being part of a free trade zone, it plays a major role in China’s global trade and regional economy.
The Port of Gdańsk, located on the southern coast of Gdańsk Bay in Poland, stretches along the Vistula estuary, Martwa Wisła, Port Channel, and Kashubia Canal. It’s one of the biggest ports on the Baltic Sea and is divided into two sections: the Inner and Exterior Port.
The Port of Sydney, located in New South Wales, Australia, is a major hub for trade and tourism. It’s well-known for handling a variety of cargo types, including containers, bulk goods, and petroleum products. Sydney’s port is also a key destination for cruise ships, with its iconic harbor offering breathtaking views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
The port plays a critical role in Australia’s economy by facilitating both domestic and international trade. It is well-connected to road and rail networks, making it a crucial point for distributing goods across the country. Additionally, Sydney’s port is central to the city’s thriving tourism sector, welcoming millions of visitors each year via cruise liners.
Mundra Port is India's first private port, largest container port and largest commercial port, located on the northern shores of the Gulf of Kutch near Mundra, Kutch district, Gujarat.
- Annual cargo tonnage: 155 million tonnes (2022–23)
- Location: Mundra, Kutch district, Gujarat
The Port of Houston is one of the world's largest ports and serves the metropolitan area of Houston, Texas. The port is a 50-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico.
- Annual cargo tonnage: 212 million (2006)
- Location: Houston (Texas, USA)
The Port of Alexandria is located on the northern coast of Egypt, to the West of the Nile Delta. In antiquity Alexandria was built between the Mediterranean Sea and Mariut Lake. The latter was connected to the River Nile via canals, allowing goods at the Port to travel to and from the country's interior.
Location: Alexandria
Annual cargo tonnage: 17,627,762 (2012)
The Port of Gioia Tauro is a large seaport in southern Italy. It is the largest port in Italy for container throughput, the 9th in Europe and the 6th in Mediterranean sea.
- Address: 89013 Gioia Tauro, Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, Italy
- Province: Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria
The Port of Durban, commonly called Durban Harbour, is the largest and busiest shipping terminal in sub-Saharan Africa. It handles up to 31.4 million tons of cargo each year. It is the fourth largest container terminal in the Southern Hemisphere, handling approximately 4.5 million TEU in 2019.
Chennai Port, formerly Madras Port, is India’s second-largest container port after Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) and the largest in the Bay of Bengal. It’s the third-oldest of India’s major ports, with official operations starting in 1881, though maritime trade in the area dates back to 1639. This artificial, all-weather port originally served as a key travel hub but shifted to becoming a major container port after Independence. As a historic trade center from British India’s days, it played a vital role in the economic growth of Tamil Nadu, driving South India's manufacturing boom and earning Chennai the title "Gateway of South India.
The Port of Tanjung Priok, located in North Jakarta, is Indonesia's busiest and most advanced seaport, handling over half of the country's trans-shipment cargo. Operated by the state-owned PT Pelindo, the port features 20 terminals for various types of cargo, including general goods, liquid and dry bulk, and containers. It also has specialized facilities for oil tankers, chemical ships, metal scrap, and passenger services.
In 2016, 2017, and 2018, the port handled 6.2 million, 6.92 million, and 7.8 million TEUs, respectively, with a total capacity of around 8 million TEUs. In 2019, Lloyd's ranked it as the 22nd busiest container port in the world.
Suape Port is one of the main ports of Brazil and Latin America. It's located in the city of Ipojuca and Cabo de Santo Agostinho, in the state of Pernambuco. It's the largest public port in the Northeast Region and occupies the fifth position in the national ranking.
- Address: Km 10, Rodovia PE-60, s/n - Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Ipojuca - PE, 55590-972, Brazil
- Phone: +55 81 3527-5000
- Annual cargo tonnage: 23.6 million tonnes (2017)
