Container traffic to, from, and within the Far East increased by 4-5% during the first half of 2025, surpassing 66.7 million TEU according to preliminary Container Trades Statistics data.
A stark disparity emerged between robust export growth and declining imports compared to the same 2024 period, further widening the trade imbalance by 3.2 million TEU to reach 22.8 million TEU.
Intra-Far East cargo achieved 4% growth, while Far East containerized exports expanded by 2.5 million TEU, with all trade corridors demonstrating at least moderate growth rates.
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest growth at 24%, contributing 416,000 additional TEU.
However, Europe generated the largest absolute volume increase with 778,000 additional TEU, while the Indian Subcontinent route added 652,000 TEU, both exceeding Africa’s physical growth despite lower percentage increases.
Conversely, containerized imports to the Far East declined by over 6%. Australasia was the sole exception to this widespread downturn, registering nearly 4% growth and adding 36,000 TEU.
North America experienced both the steepest percentage decline (-9%) and largest absolute reduction (-304,000 TEU), with Europe following closely on both measures.
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