The war in Ukraine has impacted the world trade in unprecedented ways. As the major gateways of world trade, ports across the world have also felt the brunt. Therefore it is necessary to reassess the ranking of the busiest ports in the world. In our research we have focused on total throughput in a port which denotes the sum of the total shipments from all committed, regular, and new shippers during the base period. The top 10 busiest ports in the world in 2023 are Port of Shanghai, Port of Singapore, Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, Port of Shenzhen, Port of Guangzhou, Port of Busan, Port of Qingdao, Port of Hong Kong, Port of Tianjin and Port of Rotterdam.
List of the top 10 busiest ports in the world
Port of Shanghai, China
Located on the coast of the East China Sea, Shanghai is the busiest port in the world, handling over 43.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2022. The port is the main gateway for trade between China and the rest of the world, and its strategic location has made it a vital hub for both ocean and inland shipping.
Port of Singapore, Singapore
As the world’s second-busiest port, Singapore is a major player in the global shipping industry. The port is strategically located at the southern end of the Malacca Strait, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, and handles over 37 million TEUs in 2022. Singapore is also known for its world-class facilities, efficiency, and innovative technologies.
Ningbo-Zhoushan, China
Located in the eastern province of Zhejiang, the Ningbo-Zhoushan port is China’s third-busiest port and the world’s third-largest port by cargo volume, with a throughput of over 28.8 million TEUs in 2020. The port’s strategic location on the coast of the East China Sea has made it an important gateway for trade between China and the rest of the world.
Port of Shenzhen, China
Shenzhen Port is one of the busiest and most important ports in China and the world. Located in the southern province of Guangdong, Shenzhen Port is strategically located near Hong Kong and is a vital gateway for trade between China and the rest of the world.
The port is made up of several different terminals, each specializing in different types of cargo. The main terminals are the Yantian International Container Terminal, the Shekou Container Terminal, and the Chiwan Container Terminal. Together, these terminals have a combined capacity of over 20 million TEUs.
Guangzhou Harbor, China
Located on the Pearl River Delta in southern China, the Guangzhou Harbor is China’s fourth-busiest port and the world’s fifth-busiest port, handling over 21.6 million TEUs in 2020. The port’s strategic location has made it an important hub for trade between China and Southeast Asia.
Busan, South Korea
The Port of Busan is South Korea’s largest port and the world’s fourth-busiest port, handling over 21.9 million TEUs in 2020. Located on the southeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula, Busan is a vital hub for the country’s export-oriented economy and a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region.
Qingdao, China
Located on the eastern coast of Shandong Province in China, the Port of Qingdao is the country’s fifth-busiest port and the world’s sixth-busiest port, with a throughput of over 20.5 million TEUs in 2020. The port’s strategic location on the Yellow Sea has made it an important gateway for trade between China and other parts of Asia.
Port of Hong Kong, China
Located on the southern coast of China, the Port of Hong Kong is a major gateway for trade between China and the rest of the world. The port handled over 12.3 million TEUs in 2020, making it the world’s ninth-busiest port. Hong Kong is known for its efficient and advanced facilities and its position as a financial and trading hub in Asia.
Tianjin, China
Located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, the Port of Tianjin is China’s sixth-busiest port and the world’s eighth-busiest port, handling over 14.5 million TEUs in 2020. The port is a vital hub for trade between China and other parts of Asia and serves as a gateway to Beijing, China’s capital city.
Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands
The Port of Rotterdam is Europe’s busiest port and the 10-busiest port in the world. In 2022, The total throughput in the port was 467.4 million tonnes. Located in the Netherlands, the port is a vital hub for trade between Europe and the rest of the world and is known for its efficiency, advanced technology, and innovative solutions.
Summary of the top 10 busiest ports in the world
World’s top 10 busiest ports include Port of Shanghai, Port of Singapore, Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, Port of Shenzhen, Port of Guangzhou, Port of Busan, Port of Qingdao, Port of Hong Kong, Port of Tianjin and Port of Rotterdam. These ports are key in facilitating international trade and connecting economies across the globe. It is noteworthy that six of these top 10 busiest ports in the world are in China.
