The International Trade Blog 
International Logistics
The World’s Busiest Ports: Top Global and U.S. Shipping Hubs
On: February 19, 2025 | By: 
Kari Crane |
4 min. read
Ever wonder what makes global trade tick? Look no further than the world’s busiest ports. These massive gateways are where the real action happens—towering cranes lifting containers like puzzle pieces, cargo ships arriving from every corner of the globe, and endless rows of containers packed with everything from auto parts to high-end fashion.
While a lot has changed in global trade over the past few years, one thing hasn’t: China dominates the list of the world’s busiest ports. Even as some companies rethink their supply chains and the U.S. continues its efforts to decouple from China, the sheer scale of Chinese ports means they aren’t giving up their top spots anytime soon.
But this year brings more uncertainty than usual. With a new administration in the U.S., trade policy could shift in ways that impact cargo flows and port rankings. The final numbers for 2024 aren’t in yet, and geopolitical tensions continue to shape shipping routes. Still, based on early figures and data from 2023, the biggest players remain unchanged—Shanghai, Singapore and a lineup of Chinese mega-ports continue to set the pace for global commerce.
Noticeably missing from the top 10? Any U.S. ports. The Port of Los Angeles ranked 16th, while its neighbor, the Port of Long Beach, came in at 20th. But if you think of these two ports as operating in tandem—and in many ways, they do—their combined container volume would have landed them at number 9 on the list. While no single U.S. port cracks the top tier, Los Angeles and Long Beach remain critical gateways for trans-Pacific trade.
So, whether you’re a supply chain pro or just curious about where your latest online order started its journey, let’s look at the world’s busiest ports and see who keeps global trade moving.
The Top 10 Busiest Ports in the World
Based on 2023 container volume, measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the following ports lead global trade, according to the World Shipping Council:
- Port of Shanghai (China): 49.16 million TEUs
- Port of Singapore (Singapore): 39.01 million TEUs
- Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan (China): 35.30 million TEUs
- Port of Shenzhen (China): 29.88 million TEUs
- Port of Qingdao (China): 28.77 million TEUs
- Port of Guangzhou (China): 25.41 million TEUs
- Port of Busan (South Korea): 23.04 million TEUs
- Port of Tianjin (China): 22.19 million TEUs
- Port of Hong Kong (China): 14.40 million TEUs
- Port of Jebel Ali (United Arab Emirates): 14.47 million TEUs
The Top 5 Busiest Ports in the United States
These are the ports leading the way in the U.S.:
- Port of Los Angeles: 8.63 million TEUs
- Port of Long Beach: 8.02 million TEUs
- Port of New York-New Jersey: 7.81 million TEUs
- Port of Savannah: 4.93 million TEUs
- Port of NW Seaport Alliance: 2.97 million TEUs
Though we don’t yet have full 2024 figures for all ports, we do for some key hubs—including the busiest ports in the U.S. The Port of Los Angeles ended 2024 with 10.3 million TEUs, making it the second-busiest year in its history and marking a 20% jump from 2023. Meanwhile, the Port of Long Beach set a new record, moving 9.6 million TEUs. Combined, these neighboring ports handled more than 10 million TEUs of imports alone—just 9,000 containers short of the all-time record set in 2021, when pandemic-era consumer demand overwhelmed supply chains.
Several factors contributed to this surge. Supply chain disruptions, including attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and drought-driven capacity reductions at the Panama Canal, pushed more cargo through Southern California. Additionally, uncertainty over labor disputes at East and Gulf Coast ports led to diversions, further boosting volumes.
Ports Are Just One Piece of the Export Puzzle
Understanding the world’s busiest ports is more than just an interesting look at global trade—it’s a critical piece of a successful export strategy. By staying informed about port activity, you can identify potential supply chain bottlenecks, diversify your shipping routes to mitigate risks, and anticipate the geopolitical and environmental factors that may impact trade flows.
But mastering the logistics of shipping is just one part of the export process. To be a truly successful exporter—one who maximizes profits, avoids compliance pitfalls and grows their business—you need a solid grasp of export procedures and documentation.
That’s where our free guide, Export Procedures and Documentation: An In-Depth Guide, comes in. This step-by-step resource walks you through every phase of the export process, from classifying your products to ensuring proper documentation and compliance. Whether you’re new to exporting or looking to refine your processes, this guide will give you the knowledge and confidence to navigate international trade successfully. Download your copy today.
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