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.