Busiest Container Ports in the World 2004-2022

This bar chart race shows the busiest container ports in the world, by twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), from 2004 to 2022.

1 TEU = A 20-foot equivalent unit or a 20-foot-long cargo container.

While the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are adjacent to each other and form a larger unified complex known as the San Pedro Bay Port Complex, they are administratively separate entities with distinct operations and governance structures. Therefore, they are separated here to understand each port's individual performance.

Since 2004, the busiest container ports in the world in terms of TEUs have seen significant shifts and expansions. Ports in East Asia, particularly China, have dominated the rankings, with Shanghai consistently holding the top spot in China since 2004. Other major players include ports in Singapore, Shenzhen, and Ningbo-Zhoushan. These ports have continuously expanded their infrastructure and adopted advanced technologies to handle the increasing volume of global trade. Additionally, ports in Europe and North America have also maintained their positions in the top rankings, albeit with varying degrees of growth. Overall, the landscape of the busiest container ports has evolved over the years, reflecting changes in global trade patterns and economic dynamics.

Data source: World Shipping Council and various individual port data portals.

Data visualization created with flourish.studio