The global market for containerised cargo has seen notable shifts lately, influenced by changes in international trade dynamics, evolving strategies in supply chains, and regulatory updates. These developments are shaped by a mix of economic, technological, and geopolitical factors that continue to redefine the containerised trade environment.
Containerised cargo trends reveal a steady growth in the Trans-Pacific route, variable shifts in the Trans-Atlantic route, and a mild decline in the Europe-Asia route. These trends highlight the ever-changing nature of global trade routes, affected by diverse economic, political, and logistical elements.
Source: Statista
More specifically, the Trans-Pacific route saw an increase of around 2.5% from 2020 to 2022, and a rise of 1% from 2022 to 2024. The Trans-Atlantic route experienced a significant rise of approximately 12% from 2020 to 2022, but then suffered a reduction of about 7% from 2022 to 2024. The Europe-Asia route had a modest increase of 0.4% from 2020 to 2022, followed by a decrease of about 5% from 2022 to 2024.
The data suggests that the Far East is becoming increasingly important to global trade, likely due to a substantial pivot towards Asian markets—a trend expected to persist in the coming years.
This shift is underscored by the performance of the world’s top 20 ports in the first half of 2024, where nearly all showcased growth in their container volumes.
Notably, Chinese ports dominated once again the world rankings, securing four of the top five positions. Additionally, American ports saw a notable rebound fuelled by robust demand from US consumers.
The prominence of Asian ports signals that the Far East region will likely maintain a significant role in global trade, driven not only by the performance of Chinese ports but also by the rise of regional ports in Southeast Asia.
In Europe, the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam maintain steady progress, bolstered by investments in advanced technology. The Middle East, represented primarily by Jebel Ali, is likely to see more ports emerge as Gulf states aim to diversify their economies beyond oil.
