Shanghai’s port handles more cargo containers per year than every U.S. port combined.
How to Play: Guess if the port on the right has MORE or LESS annual container throughput than the one on the left.
Name A
Name B
Top 10 Busiest Seaports
Container throughput in TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) is the standard measure for port traffic. Asian ports dominate due to manufacturing-export economics.
| # | Name | Annual TEU (millions) | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shanghai | 49.20 | M TEU |
| 2 | Singapore | 37.30 | M TEU |
| 3 | Ningbo-Zhoushan | 35.40 | M TEU |
| 4 | Shenzhen | 30 | M TEU |
| 5 | Qingdao | 28.70 | M TEU |
| 6 | Guangzhou | 24.60 | M TEU |
| 7 | Busan | 22.70 | M TEU |
| 8 | Tianjin | 22 | M TEU |
| 9 | Hong Kong | 14.40 | M TEU |
| 10 | Dubai (Jebel Ali) | 13.70 | M TEU |
Why Asian Ports Dominate
China alone holds 7 of the top 10 ports. Shanghai handles ~49M TEU per year — about 3x the largest US port (Los Angeles+Long Beach combined ~19M).
Singapore is a transshipment hub — 90% of its 37M TEU is containers passing through, not destined for or from Singapore. Geography (Strait of Malacca) makes it ideal.
Rotterdam at 13.4M is Europe’s busiest port. It handles most cargo destined for the EU’s central markets. Antwerp is second in Europe at 12.5M.
Frequently Asked Questions
World's busiest port?
Shanghai at 49.2 million TEU per year — by a large margin.
Why is Singapore so busy with no manufacturing?
Strategic location at the Strait of Malacca makes it the world’s busiest transshipment hub. Most containers pass through, not land.
How does the US compare?
The US has no port in the global top 10. Los Angeles + Long Beach combined ~19M TEU vs Shanghai’s 49M.
Are these all maritime?
Yes. Inland river ports and rail terminals are excluded.
Note: Annual container throughput per Lloyd’s List 2024.
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