Top 10 seaports in the world

Top 10 seaports in the world. Maritime transport is the foundation of international trade where container shipping is critical. Efficient container ports has been a prerequisite for many countries’ export growth. This guide will introduce the top ten largest ports in the world in 2024. They are known for their high container throughput.

10. Port of Jebel Ali – United Arab Emirates

Port of Jebel Ali sits in the deep-water harbor of the Persian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates. It is the world’s largest Artificial Port as a part of the Maritime Silk Road.

Up to May 2024, the congestion at Jebel Ali Port has been increasing. The port had 13.97 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers in 2022, and 14.47 million TEUs in 2023, indicating a yearly growth.

9. Port of Rotterdam – Netherlands

The Port of Rotterdam is located in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. It is the largest port in Europe and among the busiest ports in the world. It includes seven ports and five container terminals, covering a total length of 37 km.

The Port of Rotterdam had 3.3 million TEUs during the first quarter of 2024. In the past three years, its container throughput has increased slightly.

8. Port of Tianjin – China

Port of Tianjin is the largest Artificial Port in mainland China among the largest ones in the world. It sits along the Bohai Sea, being a critical transport hub in northern China.

A new shipping route was opened in early 2024 directly importing cherries from Chile. This is the first time Latin American cherries were imported into mainland China.

In the first quarter of 2024, the Port of Tianjin set an unprecedented record by handling over 5.41 million TEUs, a 7.2% increase over the same period last year.

7. Port of Hong Kong – China

As a main port in Hong Kong, the Port of Hong Kong (HKP) is among the top ten busiest ports in the world, with large transport volumes of shipping, cargo, and passengers.

In the first quarter of 2024, the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals in HKP handled 2.582 million TEUs, and other terminals handled 0.741 million TEUs, totaling 3.323 million TEUs, with a 3.2% decline over the same period last year.

6. Port of Busan – South Korea

Port of Busan, the largest port in South Korea, is located in Busan city. It consistently ranks sixth globally in container throughput.

Though South Korea’s container throughput reached 2.8 million TEUs in December 2022, the total volume during the year declined. Since the container throughput of Port of Busan in 2024 has not been released yet, the latest data is not available.

5. Port of Guangzhou – China

Port of Guangzhou is located in the Pearl River Delta. It is the largest international trade port in southern China. It is the fifth busiest port in the world, sitting across the Pearl River estuary along Guangzhou and Dongguan.

In May 2024, the Port of Guangzhou was estimated to reach 2.14 million TEUs, a 2.5% increase over the same period last year. From January to May in 2024, it totally had 10.065 million TEUs.

4. Port of Shenzhen – China

Port of Shenzhen has three major container ports: Yantian Port, Nanshan Port, and Dachan Bay Port, which become a crucial part of the container shipping network. Besides, it has other ports including DaChan Island, XiaoChan Island, Baoan, and Dapeng ports.

During the first quarter of 2024, the Yantian Port had 3.0293 million TEUs, with an 8.1% increase over the same period last year.

Port of Shenzhen is the world’s largest single container terminal. It has 20 deep-water berths used for large vessels, handling more than one-third of Guangdong’s foreign trade.

3. Port of Ningbo Zhoushan – China

Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan is a vital container shipping hub and one of China’s primary gateway ports. It is also a major storage and transportation base for bulk commodities.

During the first five months of 2024, the port handled 15.803 million TEUs of containers, up 9.3% over the same period last year, and approximately 593 million tons of cargo, up 5.5% over the same period last year.

2. Port of Singapore – Singapore

Port of Singapore is the second busiest port in the world. It is the busiest transshipment and refueling hub globally. It was named the “Best Seaport in the World” in 2021.

During the first five months of 2024, it handled 16.9 million TEUs, up 7.7% from last year.

1. Port of Shanghai – China

Port of Shanghai, or SIGP, is the world’s largest seaport, with an area of 4 square kilometers. It sits along the Yangtze River across several cities. With easy access to the world’s major oceans, it has been an important international hub.

During the first quarter of 2024, the Port of Shanghai had 12.45 million TEUs of container throughout, up 8.6% from the same period last year.