2025: A Record-Breaking Year for Global Container Volumes
December Closes the Year with Another Record Month
As we close out 2025, there is one word that best describes the year: strong. December rounded off the year with an exceptional 16.97 million TEUs, narrowly missing the 17 million mark while setting yet another monthly lifting record. This continues a clear theme throughout 2025, with March, May, August, and December all establishing new records respectively.
Remarkably, eight out of the twelve months in 2025 exceeded 16 million TEUs, a level that was only reached three times in 2024 but has now become the new normal in this standout year. December volumes increased 2.6% month on month, and when compared with December 2024, which itself was a record month at the time, volumes were up 4.7%. This brings total global volumes for 2025 to an extraordinary 192.9 million TEUs.
The Global Price Index recorded a modest increase of 2 points in December, finishing the year at 77 points. Despite this uptick, the index closed 19.8% lower than where it stood at the end of 2024. This divergence suggests that the traditional relationship between volumes and pricing, long governed by supply and demand, may be evolving, as record volumes no longer translate directly into higher prices.
Exports in 2025
From a percentage growth perspective, the Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East delivered the strongest export performance in 2025, finishing the year 9% higher than 2024, equivalent to an additional 1.2 million TEUs. The key beneficiaries of this growth were Sub-Saharan Africa and South & Central America, which saw the largest proportional increases in imports from this region.
In absolute TEU terms, the Far East remained the dominant exporting region, increasing exports by nearly 7 million TEUs compared with 2024. This performance is particularly notable given earlier concerns around the Transpacific trade amid economic uncertainty. A major contributor to this growth was Intra-Far East trade, which rose 5% year on year and emerged as the largest trade lane of 2025, more than double the size of the second-largest trade, Far East to North America.
Imports in 2025
Import performance in 2025 highlights four regions that delivered both exceptional TEU volumes and strong percentage growth: Sub-Saharan Africa, South & Central America, Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East and Europe, which finished the year up 18%, 10%, 9%, and 7% respectively.
One of the most striking narratives of the year has been the sustained surge in European imports, driven largely by a 9% increase in cargo originating from the Far East. This trade reached unprecedented levels in 2025, recording monthly liftings of up to 1.8 million TEUs, figures never previously seen on this route. It also expanded the import, export trade imbalance on this route, which stood at 2.9:1 in 2024 and stands at 3.3:1 at the end of 2025, widening the gap by an extra half TEU.
North America was the only region to experience an overall decline in imports during 2025, falling 2% year on year. This was driven by a reduction in Far East exports to the region, alongside stagnation in European exports into North America.
A Historic Year with New Questions for 2026
As 2025 draws to a close, it is clear that this has been an exceptional year for the container shipping industry. Volumes reached unprecedented levels and, crucially, sustained that strength throughout the year. February was the only month to fall below 15.5 million TEUs, largely due to the seasonal impact of Chinese New Year and it being a shorter month.
Despite record-breaking volumes, the Global Price Index fluctuated by just 21 points throughout 2025, compared with 35 points in 2024. This raises an important question: does this signal the beginning of price stabilisation, or will it introduce new challenges as contracts are negotiated in early 2026?
Looking back, global volumes closed at 172.1 million TEUs in 2022, 173 million in 2023, and 184.3 million in 2024. The progression into 192.9 million TEUs in 2025 highlights an industry that continues to grow, defying expectations and navigating uncertainty with resilience.
With ongoing concerns surrounding the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, it is certain that 2026 will bring a new set of challenges, and a new chapter for global container trade.
Stay tuned with CTS data as we follow the story of 2026!
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