Drewry’s latest Global Container Port Throughput Index reveals a continued healthy expansion in global container handling, with significant month-on-month and year-on-year increases in May 2025. The index rose by 1.4% month-on-month (MoM) and a strong 5.4% year-on-year (YoY), indicating sustained momentum in the global shipping industry. The rolling 12-month average growth rate for global port handling remained stable at 6.5% for the third consecutive month, underscoring a consistent upward trend.
Key Highlights:
- Overall Growth: Global container port throughput demonstrated resilience, with the index reaching 138.9 points in May 2025 (100 points = January 2019).
- Regional Leadership: The Middle East and South Asia region emerged as the frontrunner in year-to-date (YTD) growth, recording an impressive 9.2% increase in volumes. North America and Greater China also showed strong performance, with YTD growth rates of 7.7% and 6.9% respectively.
- Oceania’s Decline: Oceania remained the sole region reporting a decline, with its May YTD throughput falling by 2.6%.
Regional Performance Breakdown:
Greater China: The Greater China Container Port Throughput Index experienced a slight softening in May 2025, dipping 0.4% MoM to 124.9 points. However, it still registered a robust 4.5% YoY increase. The 12-month average growth rate for the region eased to 6.3%, just below the global average. Despite the minor monthly dip, the largest ports in Greater China continued to exhibit strong expansion, with the top five ports averaging 7.2% YoY growth in May. Notably, Shanghai saw a significant surge, with volumes increasing by 10.2% YoY.
North America: The North American Container Port Throughput Index saw an 8.0% MoM decline in May, reaching 109.3 points. Despite this monthly contraction, volumes were still up 2.7% YoY. The rolling 12-month average growth rate slightly reduced but maintained a double-digit figure at 10.1%, reflecting strong underlying demand over the longer term. The monthly slide was primarily attributed to the impact of the US government’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, which affected major West Coast ports. Throughput at Long Beach slumped 26.3% MoM (down 8.2% YoY), while Los Angeles fell 15% MoM (down 4.8% YoY). Other ports experiencing declines included Manzanillo (down 10.4% YoY), Seattle (down 9.6% YoY), and Oakland (down 0.3% YoY). Bucking this trend, Vancouver and Lazaro Cardenas reported positive growth, with volumes rising 13.9% YoY and 12.6% YoY, respectively.
Europe: The European Container Port Throughput Index showed positive momentum, increasing 3.7% MoM in May and rising 5.3% YoY to 113.7 points. The rolling 12-month average growth rate improved to 5.4%, though it remained below the global average of 6.5%. A standout performer in the region was Port Said East, which reported record-breaking throughput in May 2025. Volumes at the East Med hub surged an impressive 20% MoM, marking an over 50% YoY increase, with YTD throughput 18% higher than the previous year.
“May’s figures highlight the continued strength in global container port activity, with several key regions driving growth,” said Drewry. “While some regions experienced short-term fluctuations due to specific market factors like tariffs, the overall trend remains positive, supported by robust year-on-year growth and a stable 12-month average.”
