According to the latest report by Drewry Ports and Terminals Insight, the global container handling index rose by 3% month-on-month in January 2025, reaching 117.8 points, which represents an 8.3% increase compared to the same period last year. On a rolling annual basis, global growth stands at 6.2%, highlighting a solid recovery in port operations worldwide. This index is derived from monthly observations of volumes handled at more than 340 ports globally, covering over 80% of international container traffic.
Chinese ports were particularly dynamic in January, with the Greater China Container Port Throughput index showing a robust monthly increase of 9.4%, climbing to 127.0 points—equivalent to an annual growth rate of 7.6%. Among the most notable examples was the Port of Shanghai, the world’s largest container hub, which achieved a record volume of five million TEU, marking a 21.3% increase over the previous month and an 11.1% rise compared to the previous year. Ningbo also confirmed this positive trend, recording a monthly growth of 22.1%, underscoring China's pivotal role in global logistics.
In North America, growth was more modest but still significant. The regional index rose by 1.2% compared to the previous month, reaching 112.1 points, reflecting a 10.0% increase compared to January last year, driven mainly by strong performances from ports on the US West Coast. In Europe, the Container Port Throughput index increased by 2.5%, reaching 101.9 points—up 9% from January 2024—confirming a more gradual but stable recovery in European port traffic.
The Middle East and South Asia region saw a monthly increase of 1%, but a substantial 14.0% rise compared to January 2024, when significant disruptions occurred due to route diversions in the Red Sea. Notably, Hamad Port in Qatar posted growth of over 20%, while strong performances were also recorded at Mundra (+25.1%), JNPT (+23.2%), Chennai (+23.6%), and Karachi (+23.1%).
Despite these encouraging figures, Drewry anticipates a slight slowdown starting as early as February 2025, forecasting a 2.1% decline in the global port throughput index. It should also be noted that indices for Africa are based on a smaller sample, requiring a more cautious interpretation. Additionally, some figures for January 2025 are estimates and may be subject to revision in subsequent Drewry reports.
