Drewry’s latest Global Container Port Throughput Index reveals a month-over-month decrease of 1.1% in July 2025, providing the first clear indication of the previously anticipated slowdown in the second half of the year. This dip follows a period of outperformance that prompted Drewry to upgrade its full-year growth forecast for 2025 to 3.3% in August.
While the July figures represent a monthly decline, they still reflect a strong year-over-year increase of 4.1%. Year-to-date, the global market has been driven by exceptional performance in the Middle East and South Asia, which saw a 7.8% volume increase, and Europe, which grew by 6.5%.
The most significant monthly growth was recorded in North America, where the container port throughput index spiked 8.3% in July. This surge, the highest in over two years, was driven by cargo “frontloading” as shippers rushed to bring goods into the U.S. ahead of widespread tariff increases. Major U.S. gateways experienced robust activity, with Long Beach volumes surging 34% and Los Angeles growing by 14% month-on-month.
In contrast, signs of a slowdown were more evident across key Asian markets. The Greater China index fell 3.4% in July, and its 12-month average growth rate slowed to 5.6%, falling below the global average. Similarly, Shanghai and Ningbo saw monthly volume decreases of 1.8% and 4.1%, respectively, while volumes at Shenzhen were down 1.1% year-on-year.
The North and Southeast Asia index also declined by 3.0% month-on-month. However, some ports in the region continued to thrive, with Singapore and Laem Chabang both recording strong monthly gains of 4.3% and 2.2%, respectively, highlighting the variability in regional performance.
The July data, while marking a deceleration, confirms the overall resilience and underlying strength of the global container market while also demonstrating the early stages of the anticipated second-half moderation.
