Asia continues to dominate global container shipping, according to the latest operational estimates published by EconDB for May 2026. The data highlights the continued strength of the region’s major export gateways while underlining the strategic importance of transshipment hubs in maintaining global trade flows.
The following analysis examines the first ten ports displayed in EconDB’s May 2026 operational dataset. Together, they provide valuable insight into import and export activity, re-export patterns, connectivity and reefer cargo movements across some of the world’s busiest container hubs.
| EconDB Order | Port | UN/LOCODE | May Imports | May Exports | Re-export Ratio | Connectivity Index | Reefer Exports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | SG SIN | 1,434k | 1,336k | 78.4% | 229 | 6k |
| 2 | Shanghai | CN SHA | 330k | 1,081k | 28.1% | 227 | 11k |
| 3 | Busan | KR PUS | 713k | 849k | 58.6% | 146 | 12k |
| 4 | Ningbo | CN NGB | 250k | 914k | 24.2% | 208 | 11k |
| 5 | Tanjung Pelepas | MY TPP | 525k | 567k | 92.7% | 59 | 9k |
| 6 | Qingdao | CN TAO | 167k | 657k | 10.4% | 130 | 18k |
| 7 | Tanger Med | MA PTM | 477k | 424k | 90.7% | 59 | 10k |
| 8 | Antwerp | BE ANR | 378k | 436k | 40.3% | 88 | 24k |
| 9 | Rotterdam | NL RTM | 652k | 305k | 27.0% | 89 | 21k |
| 10 | Kaohsiung | TW KHH | 357k | 302k | 67.9% | 88 | 2k |
Singapore remains the leading operational hub
Singapore records the highest overall container activity among the ports included in EconDB’s May operational estimates. The port combines strong import and export volumes with a re-export ratio of 78.4%, reinforcing its role as one of the world’s foremost transshipment hubs linking major east-west and intra-Asian shipping services.
Chinese gateways continue to power global exports
China’s leading container gateways remain heavily export-oriented.
Shanghai and Ningbo record substantially higher export volumes than imports, reflecting their position at the heart of the country’s manufacturing and export economy. Qingdao follows the same pattern, further demonstrating the importance of China’s coastal ports in supporting global containerised trade.
Connectivity reinforces Asia’s central role
Singapore and Shanghai record the highest connectivity scores in the dataset, with indices of 229 and 227 respectively, followed by Ningbo at 208. Busan and Qingdao complete the top five, highlighting the concentration of liner services across Asia and the region’s central role in global shipping networks.
Transshipment remains essential to global supply chains
The estimates underline the strategic importance of dedicated transshipment hubs.
Malaysia’s Tanjung Pelepas records the highest re-export ratio in the dataset at 92.7%, closely followed by Morocco’s Tanger Med at 90.7%. Both ports serve primarily as cargo redistribution centres, transferring containers between long-haul services and regional feeder networks to maintain efficient trade flows.
Busan also continues to play a significant transshipment role while maintaining strong import and export activity.
European gateways display contrasting trade profiles
The European ports included in the estimates reveal different operational characteristics.
Rotterdam remains strongly import-oriented, recording substantially higher estimated imports than exports during May, reflecting its position as one of Europe’s principal gateways for inbound cargo.
Antwerp, meanwhile, presents a more balanced import-export profile and records the highest estimated reefer exports among the ports included in the dataset, highlighting its importance in temperature-controlled cargo logistics.
Providing an additional perspective on port activity
Operational estimates such as those produced by EconDB offer an additional perspective on container movements and trade patterns between the publication of official port statistics.
By combining vessel tracking, shipping schedules and trade modelling, the dataset provides a timely view of activity across major container hubs, helping industry stakeholders identify operational trends and better understand the dynamics of the global liner shipping network.
Disclaimer
The analysis presented in this article is based on independent operational estimates provided by EconDB. The figures are generated using commercial vessel tracking, liner schedules and trade flow modelling and are intended to provide a timely indication of global container port activity.
These estimates do not constitute official throughput statistics or official port rankings published by port authorities, governments or other official bodies. They should be interpreted as independent market estimates designed to complement, not replace, official port performance data.
