Shimizu Port container volumes fall 6% in May

a port with cranes and containers

The Port of Shimizu handled 33,808 TEUs of foreign-trade containers in May, a 6% decline compared with the same month last year.

Exports totaled 16,335 TEUs, down 9.3%, while imports reached 17,473 TEUs, down 2.6%.

Loaded export containers amounted to 12,041 TEUs, a decrease of 11.8%.

Loaded imports reached 17,004 TEUs, down 3.2%.

Total loaded container volumes stood at 29,045 TEUs, representing a 7% year-on-year decline.

Empty containers increased slightly by 0.6% to 4,763 TEUs.

Domestic container traffic totaled 8,532 TEUs, down 0.9%.

Overall throughput, including foreign and domestic cargo, reached 42,340 TEUs, a 5% decline and the port’s first year-on-year contraction in five months.

Despite the weaker May performance, volumes remained higher for the first five months of 2026.

Between January and May, exports increased 5.6% to 83,479 TEUs, while imports rose 1.2% to 85,667 TEUs.

Total foreign-trade container volumes reached 169,416 TEUs, up 3.4% year-on-year.

Loaded container traffic increased to 145,427 TEUs, while empty containers rose 6.3% to 23,989 TEUs.

Domestic container volumes grew 0.9% to 47,135 TEUs.

Combined foreign and domestic throughput reached 216,551 TEUs during the first five months of 2026, an increase of 2.8% compared with the same period last year.