12 Major Container Ports In the World

Ports are vital for a country’s economic growth, and states with large coastlines often have several facilities for maritime trade. They enable ships to dock, load, and unload their cargo, which may include goods like fuel, foodstuffs, livestock, timber, electronics, machines, etc.

Modern ports are automated enhancing operations through advanced equipment, exclusive or specialised terminals and other facilities offering repair and ship maintenance. Most ports today focus on goods transported through containers. Thus, these containers are used to obtain a rough estimate of the overall health of a port.

In most international standards, guides, and publications, the container traffic measured in TEUs is considered the reference for port traffic. A TEU refers to Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, where 20 feet is the length of the average container. Forty-foot containers are accounted for as 2 TEUs.

Top 10 Ports in Terms of Container Traffic Per Annum

The TEU traffic experienced by most ports in this list lies in the range of millions. They are predominantly located in and around China due to several features that make the region a great location for setting up a port.

China is situated in the Indian Ocean with direct access to the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, East China Sea, Straits of Malacca, and the Korean and Japanese coastlines. Thus, all traffic to and from the Pacific and Indian Oceans passes through this region.

1. Shanghai Port, China

TEU traffic in 2024: 50 million

The Port of Shanghai became the world’s busiest port in 2010 and has retained that position since then after overtaking the Port of Singapore. It was opened in 1842 and is managed by the Shanghai International Port Company Ltd., which operates the port as a deep-sea and river port. It is situated on the East China Sea and faces Hangzhou Bay to the South. It became a prominent port due to its geographical location near the confluence of the rivers Yangtze, Huangpu, and Qiantang. The port is essential for trade around the East Coast of China.

2. Singapore Port, Singapore

TEU traffic in 2024: 41 million

The Port of Singapore has been the second largest port since 2010 and includes numerous facilities and terminals that supplement it. It ships 1/5th of the world’s containers, nearly half of the world’s crude oil, and is the largest trans-shipment port. This port provides major economic growth for the region as there are no large-scale viable natural resources. Ships approach through the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Singapore Strait, as the Straits of Johor to the North are impassable. The main terminal operators include Keppel and Pasir Panjang. These are under the authority of the PSA (Port of Singapore Authority) and Jurong Port. Singapore Port also operates a specialized terminal for cruise ships and liners.

3. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, China

TEU traffic in 2024: 32.83 million

It is one of the busiest ports in the world and is located in the East China Sea near Hangzhou Bay and Shanghai municipality. It is further made up of the Beilun port (sea), Zhenhai port (estuary), and old Ningbo port (inland river). The port is operated by the Ningbo Zhoushan Port Co. Ltd. after the merger of the ports at Ningbo and Zhoushan in 2006. It supports trade with over 90 countries and has over 190 berths for ships of various weight classes. However, the constant maritime traffic has polluted the water in the region, sparking international outrage.

4. Shenzhen, China

TEU traffic in 2024: 27.66 million

The Shenzhen Port refers to several ports within the Guangdong province of China which act under a single head. The port is located near several prominent bays and waterways that provide large container traffic. It includes over 140 total berths for ships and is subdivided for management into two ports on the Eastern and Western sides divided by the Kowloon peninsula. It is located on the Pearl River Delta, making it ideal for shipping services.

5. Qingdao Port, China

TEU traffic in 2024: 25.76 million

Located in the Yellow Sea, the port is divided into 4 sections- Dagang, Qianwan, Huangdong Oil, and Dongjiakou. The port has several agreements with other ports to facilitate shipping and transport. It is one of the busiest ports in the world, with traffic from several countries.

6. Busan Port, South Korea

TEU traffic in 2024: 23 million

Busan Port is the largest port in South Korea and is located in Busan Harbor. It is an extremely busy port owing to its location and the facilities available for berthing vessels. It currently has several sister ports that operate from all over the world.

7. Guangzhou Port, China

TEU traffic in 2024: 21.75 million

This port serves as the primary port of the Guangdong region that deals with sea-related shipping. It is operated by the Guangzhou Port Group Co. Ltd. and has merged with the nearby Huangpu Port. It is the largest port (comprehensive) in the South China region. It is an integral hub in the Pearl River Delta. The port boasts 4,600 berths available to various classes of vessel sizes. Dredging operations are currently underway to expand the port and allow larger tonnage vessels to enter.

8. Jebel Ali Port (Dubai) United Arab Emirates (UAE)

TEU traffic in 2024: 15.5 million 

Referred to as Mina Jebel Ali, it is situated in the largest man-made harbour and is the biggest port in the Middle East. It was built to function alongside Port Rashid in the 1970s.

Currently, it also serves as a base for aircraft carriers and other warships of the United States Navy. The Jebel Ali port has numerous facilities and provides services from several prominent firms. It is managed by the Dubai Port World organization. It has won numerous awards for being extremely well-developed and equipped.

9. Hong Kong Port, Hong Kong Province / China

TEU traffic in 2024: 13.69 million

Located in the South China Sea, this seaport is situated around Victoria Harbor and is one of the busiest ports in both cargo and passenger movement. The port is under the Port Operations Committee and the Marine Department. The port terminals are maintained by several companies, including Modern Terminals Ltd. (MTL), Hong Kong International Terminals Ltd. (HIT), and Dubai Port International Terminals Ltd. (DPI). The nine terminals include berths for container vessels, government fleets, and ships due for repairs and maintenance. It is one of the most developed ports in the world, with several facilities available for a wide variety of ships and vessels.

10. Antwerp Port, Belgium

TEU traffic in 2024: 13.5 million

This port is located in the Belgian city of Antwerp (Flanders region) and is an important port of the European continent. It has facilities to berth ships of very large sizes, including capsize vessels capable of passing through the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn. It offers services to several other ports around the world and has several auxiliary facilities. The port is divided for easy management into the Right Bank, Left Bank, and Deurganck Bank. It is a fast-evolving port that serves a majority of surrounding regions.

11. Tianjin Port, China

TEU traffic in 2024: 10.43 million

This port is operated by the Tianjin Port Group Ltd. and primarily serves seaport and river port shipping. It was known as the Port of Tanggu and is located in a geographically relevant area. This port is the largest port in Northern China, with large-scale trading across many countries. The port has several facilities along with numerous berths that provide space for incoming vessels. It is a very developed port that provides shipping and terminal services from numerous reputed organizations.

12. Los Angeles Port, United States of America

TEU traffic in 2024: 10.3 million

One of the major ports on the US coastline, the Port of Los Angeles, handles over 20% of all cargo entering the US. Run by the Los Angeles Harbor Department, it is one of the largest seaports. It functions alongside the Port of Long Beach and is situated in the San Pedro Bay.

It has eight container terminals that deal with incoming container traffic and a further 25 cargo terminals that deal with various types of goods. It conducts extensive trading with the ports of Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The port has its own police department that serves to ensure safety and security. It deals with the largest value of goods passing through any US port, with China as the top trading partner. The port is connected to numerous road and rail services that enable fast and efficient goods transport.

You might also like to read:

• 11 Major Container Terminal Operators In The World
• Watch: How Container Shipping Works – The Process Of Transporting Cargo In Containers
• What Are Different Types of Ports For Ships?
• Types of Container Terminals On The Basis of Ownership
• What is Container Depot – Purpose And Design

About Author

Ajay Menon is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, with an integrated major in Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture. Besides writing, he balances chess and works out tunes on his keyboard during his free time.

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