Drewry’s latest data reveals sustained positive momentum in global container port throughput, with April showing a modest month-on-month increase and robust year-on-year growth.
The Drewry Global Container Port Throughput Index rose by 0.5% in April compared to March, and a significant 5.6% year-on-year, indicating a healthy and expanding global trade environment. The rolling 12-month growth rate for global port handling remained steady at 6.5%.
On a Year-to-Date (January-April) basis, North America and the Middle East & South Asia regions have led the charge in volume increases, both experiencing impressive growth of 9.7% and 9.6% respectively. Greater China also demonstrated strong performance, rising by 7.5% YTD. Oceania stands as the sole region reporting a decline, with throughput falling 3.1% over the same period.
Greater China Shows Robust Expansion. The Greater China Container Port Throughput Index increased by 2.3% month-on-month to 125.4 points in April, reflecting a 7.1% year-on-year surge. The region’s 12-month average growth rate now matches the global average at 6.5%. Key ports in Greater China are experiencing significant throughput growth, with the top five ports recording an average 10% year-on-year increase in April. Notably, Shenzhen’s volumes were up 15% year-on-year, followed by Guangzhou (+10.3% YoY) and Ningbo (+9.1% YoY), underscoring the region’s pivotal role in global supply chains.
North America Maintains Strong Performance. North America’s Container Port Throughput Index continued its positive trend, rising by 2.2% month-on-month in April to 118.4 points, an impressive 10.3% increase year-on-year. The rolling 12-month average growth rate for the region saw a slight recovery, reaching 10.2%. Major US West Coast ports showed particular strength, with volumes at Long Beach up 6.1% month-on-month and 15.6% year-on-year, extending its strong start to 2025. Los Angeles also performed well, with handling up 8.3% month-on-month and 9.4% year-on-year.
Latin America Experiences Mixed Trends. In contrast to other regions, the Latin America Container Port Throughput Index experienced a 3.2% month-on-month decline in April. Despite this, it remained up 2.8% on an annual basis. The rolling 12-month average growth rate for Latin America decreased to 9.0%, which, while still comfortably above the global average, signals a loss of momentum in this regional market. Following a surge in March, throughput at the five Panama terminals fell 5% month-on-month in April, standing only 1.5% above April 2024 levels. Santos port volumes were flat month-on-month but increased 2% year-on-year, and despite an 11% month-on-month decline at Callao, its volumes remain 11% ahead year-on-year.
Drewry continues to monitor these trends closely, providing essential insights into the evolving landscape of global container shipping and port operations.
