Top 10 Largest Ports in the World: Global Hubs of Maritime Logistics and Trade

The shipping and maritime logistics industries continue to advance and grow robustly. Here’s some insight from the world of logistics. In 2023, the World Shipping Council (WSC), a trade association representing the international maritime shipping industry, compiled a list of the 50 busiest ports globally based on their cargo-handling capacities. Impressively, Laem Chabang Port in Thailand ranked 21st among these top ports.

Now, let’s explore the top 10 largest ports in the world, which manage the highest volume of container shipping globally.

• Shanghai Port, China : Handles 42.01 million TEUs, the largest in the world. It is China’s biggest port and the country’s first fully automated container port.
• Singapore Port : Handles 36.60 million TEUs and is renowned for its fair shipping fee system.
• Shenzhen Port, China : Handles 27.74 million TEUs. Shenzhen serves as a key logistics hub for both sea and air transport in southern China and is the second-largest container port in the country.
• Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, China : Handles 26.35 million TEUs. This historic port (part of the Silk Road route) is one of China’s four largest deepwater ports and a major crude oil terminal.
• Guangzhou Port, China : Handles 21.87 million TEUs. It is the primary port of the Pearl River Delta region, a significant industrial and agricultural trade hub.
• Busan Port, South Korea : Handles 21.66 million TEUs, making it the largest port in South Korea. Its proximity to Japan enhances its strategic importance.
• Hong Kong Port : Handles 19.60 million TEUs. A major logistics hub with excellent connectivity to airports and sea routes, linking over 470 destinations worldwide.
• Qingdao Port, China : Handles 18.26 million TEUs. It is the second-largest port in China.
• Tianjin Port, China : Handles 16.00 million TEUs. The largest port in northern China, it is close to Mongolia and serves as a gateway between Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Western Asia.
• Jebel Ali Port, Dubai, UAE : Handles 14.95 million TEUs. The busiest port in the Middle East and a key part of the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), a prominent free trade area.

Photo by Tawatchai