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 rose 1.2% MoM in April, up 0.8% YoY, while the rolling 12-month average growth rate for global port handling slowed to 4.5%. Despite the supply chain disruption caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting surge in global energy prices, global throughput increased by 3.1% YTD with growth supported by the Greater China and Oceania (+6% YTD), and North and Southeast Asia (+5% YTD), maintaining the positive momentum observed in the previous month.
• The Greater China Container Port Throughput Index rose 2.3% MoM in April, up 4.5% YoY.  All the top 10 ports in the region saw the growth in April except Hong Kong and Suzhou. Volumes at Shanghai increased by a strong 3.4% MoM (+8% YoY) while Ningbo increased by 3.8% MoM and 6% YoY. On the other hand, Hong Kong is still losing traffic, even compared to last year when numbers were already low, throughput in April fell by 6.3% MoM (6.3% YoY). April volumes were also lower at major ports in North Asia-Busan traffic down 5.9% MoM and Kaohsiung volumes falling 8.2% MoM.
• The North American Container Port Throughput Index fell 1.9% MoM in April, down 5.5% YoY. The rolling 12-month average growth rate fell further into negative territory at -2.0%, compared with the global average of +4.5%. New York’s volumes in April declined by  18% MoM, (8.4% YoY), but on a more positive note throughput at Long Beach was up 6% MoM and Los Angeles traffic surged 18% MoM.
• The European Container Port Throughput Index was stable in April, rising just 0.8% MoM, up 3.2% YoY. Volumes in North Europe have been sluggish so far this year, with no signs of a near-term recovery.

* Note that the index figure for Africa is based on a relatively small sample, and so should be viewed with caution
# Figures for Apr 2026 include some estimates of port throughput data which are subject to subsequent revision