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 fell 1.3% MoM in March, but remained slightly up 1.1% YoY. The decline in volumes during the month was driven entirely by the Middle East due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite this, global throughput increased 4% YTD by end of 1Q26-driven by strong volume growth in Greater China (+7%), Oceania (+7%) and North and Southeast Asia (+6% ).
• The Greater China Container Port Throughput Index increased by 2.3% MoM in March and was up 4.5% YoY. The 12-month average growth rate in Greater China fell to 5.8%. Due to the Chinese New Year holiday in February, most of the top 10 ports in the region saw MoM growth in March and, apart from Hong Kong and Xiamen, traffic at all the major ports remains ahead of last year. Volumes at Shanghai increased by a strong 8% MoM (+9% YoY). Tianjin showed even stronger growth, rising 40% MoM and 15% YoY. Throughput at Southeast Asia’s largest ports surged in March-with both Singapore and Port Klang reporting 14% MoM increases.
• The North American Container Port Throughput Index rose 3.8% MoM in March to 114.7 points, but was down 0.6% YoY. The rolling 12-month average growth rate fell into negative territory, slowing to -0.7% which is well below the global average of 5.1%. Volumes at New York rose rebounded 42% MoM in March following the closures due to blizzards that impacted the port in February. Across the rest of North America, volumes improved from February levels; however, several ports remain weaker compared to 2025 with throughput at Savannah, Charleston, Seattle and Oakland all lower on a YoY basis.
• The European Container Port Throughput Index stabilised in March, falling just 0.1% MoM, but was up 4.1% YoY. Volumes at Port of Antwerp-Bruges recovered in March, rising 12.9% MoM and 1.3% YoY. However, its 1Q26 volumes was down 2.6% YoY, leaving the Belgian port slightly behind its Dutch competitor, Port of Rotterdam, which recorded 0.3% YoY growth in 1Q26. In the Mediterranean, traffic at Port Said East continued to grow, rising 12% MoM and 43% YoY.

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