Global container port throughput surpassed one billion TEU in 2025, rising 8% to an estimated 1.012 billion TEU, as growth accelerated across both major hubs and smaller gateways, according to DynaLiners’ latest Millionaires report.
The 171 ports handling more than 1 million TEU processed 884 million TEU, up 6% from 830.9 million TEU in 2024. However, their share of global throughput fell to 87% from 89%, as smaller ports grew much faster.
Ports outside the million-TEU group saw throughput surge 21% to 128.3 million TEU, highlighting the increasingly broad-based expansion of global container traffic.
The Far East remained the dominant region, with 63 qualifying ports handling 531.2 million TEU, up 6%. North America followed with 70 million TEU, while North Europe recorded 60.5 million TEU.
Africa posted the strongest regional growth, with throughput rising 12% to 39.3 million TEU. Latin America grew 11% to 45.3 million TEU, while the Indian Subcontinent increased 10% to 35.3 million TEU.
Shanghai retained its position as the world’s busiest container port, handling a record 55.06 million TEU, up 7%.
Singapore remained second at 44.66 million TEU, followed by Ningbo at 43.87 million TEU after a 12% increase.
Shenzhen and Qingdao completed the top five, handling 35.41 million TEU and 32.89 million TEU respectively.
China remained the largest national market, with 30 ports handling more than 1 million TEU processing 306.4 million TEU, up 6%.
The US ranked second with 55.55 million TEU, followed by Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea.
Vietnam and India were among the fastest-growing major markets, with throughput increasing 11% and 12% respectively.
The expansion also pushed 12 new ports above the one million TEU threshold in 2025, while Montevideo dropped out.
Overall, 135 of the 171 qualifying ports recorded growth, although 36 saw volumes decline.
DynaLiners said the figures demonstrate that container growth is no longer concentrated solely in the world’s largest hubs, with smaller gateways expanding at a significantly faster pace.