Insight Focus
Global container volumes rise at major ports worldwide. US ports hit record monthly volumes, European hubs grow steadily, and Singapore strengthens its global lead. Despite this, some analysts remain cautious, warning that growth may pause in H2 2025.
The container volumes at the key container hubs around the world appear to be on an upward trend, with significant increases in throughput so far. However, forecasts for the full year vary by region. Now that the first half of the year has passed, it is worth examining container volume developments at the world’s most important ports.
US Ports Surge to Record Container Volumes in July
With retailers and manufacturers accelerating their shipments to the US over concerns about higher tariffs later this year, the country’s two major ports—Los Angeles and Long Beach—reported record-breaking monthly container volumes in July, marking the busiest months in their histories.
The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) handled 1,019,837 TEUs in July 2025, an 8.5% increase compared with the same month last year. This made July the busiest month ever in the port’s 117-year history.
Source: POLA
“Shippers have been frontloading their cargo for months to get ahead of tariffs, and recent activity at America’s top port really illustrates that,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Port terminals in July were packed with ships laden with cargo, processed without delay—thanks to our dedicated longshore workers, terminal and rail operators, truckers, and supply chain partners.”
Specifically, loaded imports at POLA reached 543,728 TEUs in July, an 8% year-on-year increase and the highest monthly import volume in the port’s history. Loaded exports totalled 121,507 TEUs, up 6% from 2024. The port also processed 354,602 empty containers, a 10% rise year-on-year.
Source: POLA
In the first seven months of 2025, the Californian port has already handled over 5.97 million TEUs, a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Similarly, the Port of Long Beach (POLB) recorded 944,232 TEUs in July, marking its busiest month in its 114-year history. Port officials attributed this growth partly to the recent pause in tariffs.
Imports increased by 7.6% to 468,081 TEUs, while exports fell 12.9% to 91,328 TEUs. Empty containers rose 12.3% to 384,824 TEUs.
Port of Long Beach
“Retailers are now seeing the arrival of goods purchased at lower costs during the temporary tariff pause earlier this year,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “Due to ongoing uncertainty from shifting trade policies, our digital tracking tool, the Supply Chain Information Highway, forecasts that cargo volume will decline by about 10% in the second half of 2025, resulting in flat overall volume for the year.”
From January through July, POLB moved 5,690,863 TEUs, a 10% increase compared with the same period in 2024.
Source: POLB
Europe’s Leading Ports See Strong Volume Gains
The three major European container ports—Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, and Hamburg—also reported increases in container throughput in the first half of 2025, reflecting a broader upward trend for European container trade.
Source: Port of Rotterdam, Port of Antwerp Bruges, Port of Hamburg
The Port of Rotterdam recorded a 2.3% year-on-year increase, reaching 7 million TEUs, driven by increased European consumption. Imports from Asia grew 8.4%, while throughputs to and from North America increased by 9.1%.
“The main reason for this growth is the increase in the number of services following the alliance structure change in February,” a port representative explained.
It’s noteworthy that Rotterdam’s overall container volume growth occurred despite declines in other cargo segments. Notably, overall cargo throughput decreased by 4.1% year-on-year during the first six months of the year.
At Antwerp-Bruges, Europe’s second-largest port, container traffic grew 3.7% to 6.91 million TEUs. “The growth in container traffic proves the strong foundations of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, even as bulk traffic comes under pressure and congestion is felt across Northwest Europe,” said CEO Jacques Vandermeiren.
The Port of Hamburg posted the strongest growth, with container volumes rising 9.3% to 4.2 million TEUs. Trade with the Far East and the Baltic Sea drove the increase, while transshipment activity reached 1.6 million TEUs in the first half of 2025—a significant 23.8% year-on-year increase.
Port of Hamburg
Singapore Strengthens Lead
In SE Asia, Singapore remains the dominant port and the world’s second-busiest container hub after Shanghai. The port handled more than 25.8 million TEUs in the first seven months of 2025, with monthly volumes consistently surpassing 2024 levels. This underscores both regional and global trade momentum.
Source: MPA
Looking Ahead
Leading container ports worldwide continue to post robust growth despite various economic and geopolitical challenges. Some analysts predict that volume growth may pause in the second half of 2025, returning to last year’s levels, while others expect the upward trend to persist through year-end before cooling in early 2026.
However, given the volatile economic and geopolitical environment around the globe, it would be prudent to remain caution, as the next anomaly or crisis could once again disrupt the shipping industry.
