According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, nine of the world’s ten largest ports are in Asia, with six of them in China.
The ranking was developed using 2022 container throughput data, a year when the post-pandemic boom that helped the global container sector recover from the COVID-19 era began to wane. As a result, ports returned to a period of moderate demand growth, which had been in place prior to the pandemic.
In 2022, the 100 ports listed in the ranking experienced a combined volume growth of 1.5%, with total throughput reaching 685.8 million TEUs. This volume represents a significant decrease compared to the 7.2% growth in 2021, marking the weakest growth since the global financial crisis in 2009.
Regional Highlights
China maintained its dominance in the container sector, accounting for approximately 40% of total cargo handled by the top 100 ports. However, some reports suggest that volumes at certain Chinese ports may be inflated, possibly because of practices such as counting barge activities and empty container movements.
Meanwhile, Middle Eastern ports experienced the highest volume increase by region in 2022: 4.7%.
Northern European ports, on the other hand, felt the blow from the loss of cargo bound for Russia as a result of sanctions imposed in response to the Ukraine conflict. The loss of Russian cargo and the consequences of the invasion resulted in cargo capacity losses of 5.5%, 5.2%, and 8.9%, respectively, at Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, and German ports Hamburg and Bremerhaven.
Ports in North America had mixed results. Congestion and ship queues plagued the West Coast, particularly in San Pedro Bay outside Los Angeles and Long Beach, while East Coast ports managed to grow, with New York/New Jersey surpassing Long Beach as North America’s second-largest port.
Ranking
1. Shanghai (China)
Throughput in 2022: 47,303,000 TEUs, an increase of 0.6% (2021: 47,030,300 TEUs)
2. Singapore (Singapore)
Throughput in 2022: 37,289,600 TEUs, a decrease of 0.5% (2021: 37,470,000 TEUs)
3. Ningbo-Zhoushan (China)
Throughput in 2022: 37,289,600 TEUs, a decrease of 0.5% (2021: 37,470,000 TEUs)
4. Shenzhen (China)
Throughput in 2022: 30,036,200 TEUs, an increase of 4.4% (2021: 28,767,600 TEUs)
5. Qingdao (China)
Throughput in 2022: 25,670,000 TEUs, an increase of 8.3% (2021: 23,710,000 TEUs)
6. Guangzhou (China)
Throughput in 2022: 24,857,600 TEUs, an increase of 1.6% (2021: 24,466,500 TEUs)
7. Busan (South Korea)
Throughput in 2022: 22,078,195 TEUs, a decrease of 2.8% (2021: 22,706,130 TEUs)
8. Tianjin (China)
Throughput in 2022: 21,021,300 TEUs, an increase of 3.7% (2021: 20,269,400 TEUs)
9. Hong Kong (China)
Throughput in 2022: 16,685,000 TEUs, a decrease of 6.3% (2021: 17,798,000 TEUs)
10. Rotterdam (Netherlands)
Throughput in 2022: 14,455,000 TEUs, a decrease of 5.5% (2021: 15,300,000 TEUs)
11. Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Throughput in 2022: 13,970,000 TEUs, an increase of 1.7% (2021: 13,742,000 TEUs)
12. Antwerp (Belgium)
Throughput in 2022: 13,500,000 TEUs, an increase of 12.3% (2021: 12,020,000 TEUs)*
13. Port Klang (Malaysia)
Throughput in 2022: 13,220,000 TEUs, a decrease of 3.7% (2021: 13,724,460 TEUs)
14. Xiamen (China)
Throughput in 2022: 12,434,700 TEUs, an increase of 3.2% (2021: 12,045,700)
15. Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia)
Throughput in 2022: 10,512,800 TEUs, a decrease of 6.1% (2021: 11,200,000 TEUs)
16. Los Angeles (United States)
Throughput in 2022: 9,911,155 TEUs, a decrease of 7.2% (2021: 10,677,610)
17. New York/New Jersey (United States)
Throughput in 2022: 9,493,664 TEUs, an increase of 5.7% (2021: 8,985,929 TEUs)
18. Kaohsiung (Taiwan)
Throughput in 2022: 9,491,575 TEUs, a decrease of 3.8% (2021: 9,864,448 TEUs)
19. Long Beach (United States)
Throughput in 2022: 9,133,658 TEUs, a decrease of 2.7% (2021: 9,384,368 TEUs)
20. Laem Chabang (Thailand)
Throughput in 2022: 8,741,049 TEUs, an increase of 4.9% (2021: 8,335,384 TEUs)
21. Hamburg (Germany)
Throughput in 2022: 8,261,977 TEUs, a decrease of 5.2% (2021: 8,715,000 TEUs)
22. Taicang (China)
Throughput in 2022: 8,025,864 TEUs, an increase of 14% (2021: 7,037,900 TEUs)
23. Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Throughput in 2022: 7,905,262 TEUs, a decrease of 0.6% (2021: 7,956,133 TEUs)
24. Tanger Med (Morocco)
Throughput in 2022: 7,596,845 TEUs, an increase of 5.9% (2021: 7,173,870 TEUs)
25. Tanjung Priok (Indonesia)
Throughput in 2022: 7,232,436 TEUs, an increase of 5.6% (2021: 6,849,227 TEUs)
26. Colombo (Sri Lanka)
Throughput in 2022: 6,860,000 TEUs, a decrease of 5.4% (2021: 7,250,000 TEUs)
27. Mundra (India)
Throughput in 2022: 6,503,447 TEUs, a decrease of 2.4% (2021: 6,660,000 TEUs)
28. Jawaharlal Nehru (India)
Throughput in 2022: 5,959,112 TEUs, an increase of 5.8% (2021: 5,631,949 TEUs)
29. Savannah (United States)
Throughput in 2022: 5,892,131 TEUs, an increase of 5% (2021: 5,613,870 TEUs)
30. Rizhao (China)
Throughput in 2022: 5,804,400 TEUs, an increase of 12.2% (2021: 5,174,220 TEUs)
31. Hai Phong (Vietnam)
Throughput in 2022: 5,629,144 TEUs, an increase of 2.6% (2021: 5,489,059 TEUs)
32. Cai Mep (Vietnam)
Throughput in 2022: 5,593,447 TEUs, an increase of 3.9% (2021: 5,385,289 TEUs)
33. Lianyungang (China)
Throughput in 2022: 5,570,000 TEUs, an increase of 9.4% (2021: 5,090,000 TEUs)
34. Manila (Philippines)
Throughput in 2022: 5,474,483 TEUs, an increase of 10% (2021: 4,976,014 TEUs)
35. Qinzhou (China)
Throughput in 2022: 5,407,000 TEUs, an increase of 16.8% (2021: 4,630,000 TEUs)
36. Colón (Panama)
Throughput in 2022: 51,02500 TEUs, an increase of 3.8% (2021: 4,915,975 TEUs)
37. Valencia (Spain)
Throughput in 2022: 5,052,272 TEUs, a decrease of 9.9% (2021: 5,604,478 TEUs)
38. Piraeus (Greece)
Throughput in 2022: 5,000,948 TEUs, a decrease of 5.9% (2021: 5,311,775 TEUs)
39. Yingkou (China)
Throughput in 2022: 4,995,000 TEUs, a decrease of 4.1% (2021: 5,207,000 TEUs)
40. Santos (Brazil)
Throughput in 2022: 4,986,590 TEUs, an increase of 3.2% (2021: 4,831,972 TEUs)
41. Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)
Throughput in 2022: 4,960,120 TEUs, an increase of 1.6% (2021: 4,882,342 TEUs)
42. Algeciras (Spain)
Throughput in 2022: 4,767,282 TEUs, a decrease of 0.7% (2021: 4,799,497 TEUs)
43. Bremen/Bremerhaven (Germany) Throughput in 2022: 4,572,866 TEUs, a decrease of 8.9% (2021: 5,018,899 TEUs)
44. Salalah (Oman)
Throughput in 2022: 4,504,000 TEUs, a decrease of 0.1% (2021: 4,510,000 TEUs)
45. Dalian (China)
Throughput in 2022: 4,459,000 TEUs, an increase of 21.4% (2021: 3,672,000 TEUs)
46. Tokyo (Japan)
Throughput in 2022: 4,430,000 TEUs, an increase of 2.4% (2021: 4,325,956 TEUs)
47. Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)
Throughput in 2022: 4,330,000 TEUs, an increase of 25.9% (2021: 3,440,000 TEUs)
48. Port Said (Egypt)
Throughput in 2022: 4,252,979 TEUs, an increase of 2.6% (2021: 4,143,807 TEUs)
49. Yantai (China)
Throughput in 2022: 4,117,800 TEUs, an increase of 12.8% (2021: 3,651,000 TEUs)
50. Houston (United States) Throughput in 2022: 3,974,901 TEUs, an increase of 15.1% (2021: 3,453,226 TEUs)
51. Tanjung Perak (Indonesia)
Throughput in 2022: 3,972,452 TEUs, an increase of 1.8% (2021: 3,901,215 TEUs)
52. Virginia (United States)
Throughput in 2022:
53. Vancouver (Canada)
Throughput in 2022: 3,557,294 TEUs, a decrease of 3.3% (2021: 3,678,952 TEUs)
54. Barcelona (Spain)
Throughput in 2022: 3,522,944 TEUs, a decrease of 0.2% (2021: 3,531,762 TEUs)
55. Manzanillo (Mexico)
Throughput in 2022: 3,473,900 TEUs, an increase of 3% (2021: 3,371,400 TEUs)
56. Fuzhou (China)
Throughput in 2022: 3,293,000 TEUs, an increase of 0.0% (2021: 3,292,300 TEUs)
57. Dongguan (China)
Throughput in 2022: 3,410,000 TEUs, an increase of 0.3% (2021: 3,400,000 TEUs)
58. Seattle/Tacoma (United States)
Throughput in 2022: 3,384,018 TEUs, a decrease of 9.4% (2021: 3,736,206 TEUs)
59. Gioia Tauro (Italy)
Throughput in 2022: 3,380,052 TEUs, an increase of 7.4% (2021: 3,146,553 TEUs)
60. Balboa (Panama)
Throughput in 2022: 3,348,900 TEUs, a decrease of 6% (2021: 3,561,432 TEUs)
61. Tangshan (China)
Throughput in 2022: 3,343,000 TEUs, an increase of 1.5% (2021: 3,293,000 TEUs)
62. Melbourne (Australia)
Throughput in 2022: 3,300,191 TEUs, an increase of 0.7% (2021: 3,278,617 TEUs)
63. Felixstowe (United Kingdom)
Throughput in 2022: 3,300,000 TEUs, a decrease of 10.8% (2021: 3,700,000 TEUs)
64. London (United Kingdom)
Throughput in 2022: 3,211,000 TEUs, an increase of 3.2% (2021: 3,111,000 TEUs)
65. Nanjing (China)
Throughput in 2022: 3,200,200 TEUs, an increase of 2.9% (2021: 3,109,800 TEUs)
66. Incheon (South Korea)
Throughput in 2022: 3,146,000 TEUs, a decrease of 6.2% (2021: 3,353,781 TEUs)
67. Chittagong (Bangladesh)
Throughput in 2022: 3,142,504 TEUs, a decrease of 2.2% (2021: 3,214,548 TEUs)
68. Cartagena (Colombia)
Throughput in 2022: 3,140,710 TEUs, a decrease of 6.5% (2021: 3,359,720 TEUs)
69. Le Havre (France)
Throughput in 2022: 3,100,000 TEUs, an increase of 2.7% (2021: 3,018,550 TEUs)
70. Yokohama (Japan)
Throughput in 2022: 2,979,595 TEUs, an increase of 4.1% (2021: 2,861,197 TEUs)
71. King Abdullah (Saudi Arabia)
Throughput in 2022: 2,905,306 TEUs, an increase of 3.2% (2021: 2,813,920 TEUs)
72. Kobe (Japan)
Throughput in 2022: 2,890,672 TEUs, an increase of 2.4% (2021: 2,823,774 TEUs)
73. Marsaxlokk (Malta)
Throughput in 2022: 2,890,000 TEUs, a decrease of 2.6% (2021: 2,967,765 TEUs)
74. Ambarli (Turkey)
Throughput in 2022: 2,867,215 TEUs, a decrease of 2.6% (2021: 2,942,550 TEUs)
75. Jiaxing (China)
Throughput in 2022: 2,853,900 TEUs, an increase of 28.4% (2021: 2,221,900 TEUs)
76. Sydney (Australia)
Throughput in 2022: 2,844,053 TEUs, an increase of 3% (2021: 2,761,751 TEUs)
77. Charleston (United States)
Throughput in 2022: 2,792,313 TEUs, an increase of 1.5% (2021: 2,751,442 TEUs)
78. Nagoya (Japan)
Throughput in 2022: 2,680,227 TEUs, a decrease of 1.7% (2021: 2,725,597 TEUs)
79. Durban (South Africa) Throughput in 2022: 2,574,931 TEUs, a decrease of 3.3% (2021: 2,661,608 TEUs)
80. Genoa (Italy)
Throughput in 2022: 2,532,532 TEUs, a decrease of 1% (2021: 2,557,847 TEUs)
81. Callao (Peru)
Throughput in 2022: 2,461,393 TEUs, a decrease of 1% (2021: 2,486,425 TEUs)
82. Osaka (Japan)
Throughput in 2022: 2,391,317 TEUs, a decrease of 1.4% (2021: 2,425,638 TEUs)
83. Oakland (United States)
Throughput in 2022: 2,337,607 TEUs, a decrease of 4.5% (2021: 2,448,552 TEUs)
84. Nantong (China)
Throughput in 2022: 2,240,000 TEUs, an increase of 10.5% (2021: 2,027,000 TEUs)
85. Kingston (Jamaica)
Throughput in 2022: 2,166,415 TEUs, an increase of 8.1% (2021: 2,004,302 TEUs)
86. Haikou (China)
Throughput in 2022: 2,146,000 TEUs, an increase of 6.7% (2021: 2,010,900 TEUs)
87. Quanzhou (China)
Throughput in 2022: 2,091,400 TEUs, an increase of 7% (2021: 1,954,300 TEUs)
88. Gdansk (Poland)
Throughput in 2022: 2,072,000 TEUs, a decrease of 2.2% (2021: 2,117,829 TEUs)
89. Kocaeli (Turkey) Throughput in 2022: 2,059,310 TEUs, an increase of 4.6% (2021: 1,967,946 TEUs)
90. Dammam (Saudi Arabia)
Throughput in 2022: 2,038,787 TEUs, an increase of 14.5% (2021: 1,780,348 TEUs)
91. Lazaro Cardenas (Mexico)
Throughput in 2022: 2,026,500 TEUs, an increase of 20.2% (2021: 1,686,076 TEUs)
92. Mersin (Turkey)
Throughput in 2022: 1,988,269 TEUs, a decrease of 5.6% (2021: 2,106,937 TEUs)
93. Guayaquil (Ecuador)
Throughput in 2022: 1,900,000 TEUs, a decrease of 12.2% (2021: 2,163,151 TEUs)
94. Lome (Togo)
Throughput in 2022: 1,835,000 TEUs, a decrease of 6.5% (2021: 1,962,304 TEUs)
95. Jinzhou (China)
Throughput in 2022: 1,876,000 TEUs, an increase of 2.5% (2021: 1,830,000 TEUs)
96. Yeosu Gwangyang (South Korea)
Throughput in 2022: 1,861,900 TEUs, a decrease of 12.3% (2021: 2,122,903 TEUs)
97. Southampton (United Kingdom)
Throughput in 2022: 1,797,000 TEUs, a decrease of 4% (2021: 1,871,081 TEUs)
98. Taipei (Taiwan)
Throughput in 2022: 1,789,998 TEUs, a decrease of 14.4% (2021: 2,091,132 TEUs)
99. Taichung (Taiwan) Throughput in 2022: 1,785,315 TEUs, a decrease of 9.8% (2021: 1,979,222 TEUs)
100. Tekirdag (Asyaportn& Ceyport Tekirdag) (Turkey)
Throughput in 2022: 1,773,148 TEUs, a decrease of 2.1% (2021: 1,812,024 TEUs)
Port of Santos: single Brazilian representative
Ranked 40th among the world’s busiest container ports in 2022, the Port of Santos had sugar as its most exported containerized cargo, followed by beef and cotton, according to DataLiner, Datamar’s business intelligence tool.
In terms of imports, the most received containerized cargoes last year were parts and accessories for motor vehicles.
Check below the main containerized cargoes moved through the Port of Santos in 2023. The data is from DataLiner:
Source: DataLiner
To improve the competitiveness of the Port of Santos, the Port Authority plans to deepen the access channel from 15 to 16 meters. To achieve this, they are considering a new contract model with a longer term to improve the operational efficiency of access to the port complex while also providing economic and financial balance to the contracted company.
According to the Ministry of Ports and Airports, the estimated budget is R$ 324.1 million. In a statement to the press, the Port Authority (APS) mentioned that the project might even progress to 17 meters, with environmental, commercial, and technical considerations under evaluation for feasibility.
Other projects in the pipeline include the auction of container terminal STS 10 and the construction of an underwater tunnel connecting Santos to Guarujá.
The tunnel between Santos and Guarujá is a key component of the new Growth Acceleration Program (PAC). Approximately R$ 5.8 billion will be allocated for its construction, with an expected length of 860 meters. It’s worth noting that 4,000 trucks need to travel between the two banks of the Port of Santos every day.
Unlike bridges, the tunnel has the advantage of not limiting the height of ships heading to the Port of Santos. Ships are growing primarily in length and width. As a result of their pillars and height, bridges have become a navigational hazard around the world.
