Drewry Global Container Port Throughput Indices

Source: Drewry Ports and Terminals Insight    (Jan 2019 = 100, calendar adjusted)

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Drewry’s latest assessment

• Drewry’s Global Container Port Throughput Index decreased 1.5% MoM in October, but remained up 5.6% YoY, and the rolling 12-month average growth rate for global port handling fell to 6.0%. As 2025 has progressed,  YTD growth, which reached 5.7% for our sample,  has persistently outpaced the full year forecasts which have been regularly upgraded to reflect latest trading conditions. Growth continues to be driven by the Middle East and South Asia region, up 11.3% YoY and 8.7% YTD, ably assisted by Latin America (up 10.6% YoY and 6.8% YTD) and Africa (up 10.9% YoY and 6.5% YTD).
  
• TThe Greater China Container Port Throughput Index fell 1.8% MoM in October, up 7.3% YoY. The 12-month average growth rate in Greater China rose to 5.5%, remaining below the global average of 6.0%. Throughput growth across the major ports of Greater China was varied in October, although all of them except Hong Kong remain ahead of last year. Shanghai volumes fell 6.2% MoM, but were up 9.2% YoY. The Pearl River Delta ports recovered from the impact of Super Typhoon Ragasa in October-Shenzhen volumes jumped 18.8% MoM and 11.7% YoY, while at Guangzhou they surged 14.4% MoM, up 2.0% YoY. Hong Kong also recovered in the month, with volumes up 14.6% MoM, although lower by 7.0% YoY.
  
• The North American Container Port Throughput Index fell 4.1% MoM in October to 111.0 points, down 1.9% YoY. The rolling 12-month average growth rate reduced to 4.9%, well below the global average of 6.0%. Volumes at major ports across the region saw volumes drop MoM in October, ranging from Los Angeles (-3.9%), New York (-1.8%), Savannah (- 6.8%), Vancouver (-5.4%) and Lazaro Cardenas (-10.2%). Taken alongside the fall in September throughput, this data seems to confirm Drewry’s view of an early end to the peak season.
  
• The European Container Port Throughput Index fell 5.2% MoM in October, marking a 0.5% YoY decrease to 105.9 points. The rolling 12-month average growth rate dropped to 5.7%, falling below the global average of 6.0%. Volumes at some of the major ports in Northwest Europe have been weaker than expected. October throughput at Antwerp Bruges dropped 12.6% MoM, down a massive 21.1% YoY. Ports in the Mediterranean have fared much better-volumes at Valencia rose 5.5% MoM and 5.5% YoY, while at Algeciras they were up 2.9% MoM and 8.9% YoY.

* Note that the index figure for Africa is based on a relatively small sample, and so should be viewed with caution
# Figures for Oct 2025 include some estimates of port throughput data which are subject to subsequent revision