Asia dominates global container shipping as Singapore, Shanghai lead connectivity rankings
Both ports function primarily as cargo redistribution centres, linking long-haul services with regional feeder networks.
GLOBAL – Asia continues to dominate global container shipping in 2026, with Singapore and Shanghai ranking as the world’s most interconnected ports, while European hubs Rotterdam and Antwerp display distinct trade profiles in import gateway and reefer export specialization.
According to operational estimates published by EconDB, Singapore recorded the highest overall container activity among the ports analyzed, combining import and export volumes and reporting a re-export ratio of 78.4%, highlighting its role as a transhipment hub linking East-West and intra-Asian shipping services.
Additionally, Singapore also recorded the highest connectivity score at 229, followed by Shanghai at 227 and Ningbo at 208. China’s major container ports remained strongly export-oriented, with Shanghai, Ningbo, and Qingdao all recording higher export volumes than imports, reflecting their role in supporting containerized exports from China.
Furthermore, the estimates highlighted the role of transhipment centres. Malaysia’s Tanjung Pelepas recorded the highest re-export ratio among the ports analyzed at 92.7%, followed by Morocco’s Tanger Med at 90.7%.
Both ports function primarily as cargo redistribution centres, linking long-haul services with regional feeder networks. Busan also maintained a strong transhipment role alongside import and export activity.
While Singapore serves as a comprehensive hub combining transhipment with significant import-export volumes, Tanjung Pelepas operates almost exclusively as a redistribution centre with minimal direct import-export activity.
Among European ports, Rotterdam and Antwerp displayed different trade profiles. Rotterdam recorded substantially higher imports than exports, reflecting its position as a gateway for inbound cargo into Europe.
On the other hand, Antwerp showed a more balanced import-export profile and recorded the highest estimated reefer export volumes among ports included in the dataset, reflecting its specialization in handling temperature-controlled cargo such as fresh produce and pharmaceuticals.
According to EconDB, the operational estimates are designed to provide a view of container movements between official port statistics.
Moreover, the analysis integrates vessel-tracking data, shipping schedules, and trade modelling to provide insights into activity at major container hubs and trends across the global liner shipping network.
Lastly, this real-time overview of global trade flows effectively maps the strategic importance of various regional hubs in maintaining the fluidity of the global supply chain.
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