Top 10 Busiest Ports in the World

Top 10 Busiest Ports in the World 2024 are Port of Shanghai, Port of Singapore, Port of Shenzhen, Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, Port of Guangzhou, Port of Busan, Port of Hong Kong, Port of Qingdao, Port of Tianjin, and Port of Jebel Ali.

In this article, we will look into the list of the top 10 busiest ports in the world along with their contributions to the global output.

Most Busiest Ports in the World

The maritime shipping sector has become essential to the survival and expansion of the global economy, as indicated by the fact that 90% of all trade worldwide depends on maritime freight. The busiest ports in the world, and their capacity to regulate the movement of goods into and out of them as final destinations, origins, or transshipment sites, are among its most important maritime stakeholders.

Shanghai Port in China is the busiest port in the world, moving more than 40 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo yearly. Close behind is the Port of Singapore, which has established itself as a major transshipment hub in the Asia-Pacific area with its amazing capacity statistics of almost 37 million TEUs annually. Shenzhen, Ningbo-Zhoushan, and Guangzhou ports in China are other prominent competitors; they collectively handle tens of millions of TEUs a year.

List of Top 10 Busiest Ports in the World

The below table lists the top 10 busiest ports in the world:

Port	Country	Annual TEU Volume
Port of Shanghai	China	43.5 million TEUs
Port of Singapore	Singapore	37.2 million TEUs
Port of Shenzhen	China	27.7 million TEUs
Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan	China	26.4 million TEUs
Port of Guangzhou	China	24.2 million TEUs
Port of Busan	South Korea	22.7 million TEUs
Port of Hong Kong	China	19.6 million TEUs
Port of Qingdao	China	18.26 million TEUs
Port of Tianjin	China	15.97 million TEUs
Port of Jebel Ali	UAE	13.6 million TEUs

10. Port of Jebel Ali

Port of Jebel Ali is the tenth busiest port in the world Since its opening in 1979, the port of Jebel Ali has gained prominence in the world’s maritime industry.

• In addition to being the busiest and biggest port in the Middle East, it is also the largest artificial harbor in the world.
• Principal exports include crude oil, gold, refined oil, diamonds, and broadcasting equipment.
• Cars, diamonds, broadcasting equipment, and gold are the main imports.
• Principal trading partners are Saudi Arabia, Germany, China, India, and the United States.

9. Port of Tianjin

Port of Tianjin is the ninth busiest port in the world. Situated just 150km away from Beijing, the Port of Tianjin is regarded as the maritime entry point to the Chinese capital.

• The five primary regions that make up the Port of Tianjin are Beijing, Haihe, Nanjiang, Beigang, and Dongjiang.
• Major imports include iron ore, medium-sized automobiles, soybeans, unladen weight, fixed-wing aircraft, and electronic integrated circuits.
• Key exports include cargo containers, bicycles, telephone sets, and processors and controllers.
• Principal trading partners are South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States.

8. Port of Qingdao

China’s Port of Qingdao is the eighth busiest port in the world. It was founded in 1892, is made up of the port regions of Dongjiakou, Guangdong, Qianwan, and Dagang.

• It is regarded as one of the ports that is most important to the trade in the West Pacific.
• Grain, steel products, fertilizers, finished product oil, alumina, and frozen goods are the main commodities handled.
• Principal trading partners: EU, US, and ASEAN

7. Port of Hong Kong

The Port of Hong Kong is is the seventh busiest port in the world. It is a major transshipment port, much like the Ports of Singapore and Busan.

• In the early 1900s, the Port of Hong Kong was one of the most significant ports in southern China.
• However, Hong Kong’s pot has fallen a few spots in the ranking due to China’s growing influence in international trade over the last several decades.
• Primary exports include metalworking transfer machines, oscilloscopes, blank audio media, and certmets.
• Principal imports include machinery, manufacturing items, chemicals, and mineral fuels.
• Major trading partners are Vietnam, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.

6. Port of Busan

Moving on from China, the Port of Busan in South Korea is the sixth busiest port worldwide.

• It is a major entrance point for trade and commerce in the region, connecting South Korea to other countries in Asia and beyond.
• It is located on the southeast coast of South Korea. Additionally, the port of Busan ranks as the third-largest transshipment port globally.
• In 2018, the port of Busan processed 11.46 million TEUs in transshipments, up 11.5% from the previous year.
• Circuits, automobiles, refined petroleum, passenger and cargo ships, and vehicle components are among the top exports.
• Iron ores and ash, machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers, optical devices, medical equipment, vehicles, electrical equipment, mineral fuels, oils, distillation products, and vehicles are among the main imports.
• Principal trading partners are Japan, the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.

5. Port of Guangzhou

Located in the southern province of Guangdong, the Port of Guangzhou is an important gateway for trade and business in South China.

• In 2018, the Port of Guangzhou broke its own record by handling a total of 21.87 million TEUs, making it the fifth busiest port globally. This was a 7.4% increase over the port’s 2017 handling volume.
• Principal exports include paper, tea, silk, copper, iron, gold, and silver.
• Important trading partners include South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and Thailand.

4. Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan

Formerly two separate entities, the ports of Ningbo and Zhoushan came together to become the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in 2006, which is currently the fourth-largest port globally.

• The Ningbo-Zhoushan Port serves as an important entry point for regional trade and business. It is ideally located on China’s eastern coast, at the mouth of the Yangtze River.
• With more than 400 berths, the port is well-known for its modern amenities, which include container storage rooms and modern terminal machinery.
• Top trading partners include ASEAN, the US, and the EU.
• $270.77 billion is the total value of imports and exports at the port.
• Crude oil, worth 153.48 billion yuan, was the largest import.

3. Port of Shenzhen

The third-largest port worldwide and the second-largest port in China is the Port of Shenzhen. This name is used to refer to several ports in the region, including Yantian, Chiwan, Dachan Bay, and Shekou.

• Because of the region’s advances in technology, many tech businesses have established themselves there, including Tencent, Huawei, and SenseTime.
• Often referred to as China’s Silicon Valley, Shenzhen is now an important global hub for technology.
• Because of the city’s investments and industrial activity, the Port of Shenzhen has seen an increase in trade and container transportation.
• This steady growth allowed the port to pass the nearby Port of Hong Kong and take third position in 2013.

2. Port of Singapore

Singapore was the world’s busiest port from 2005 until 2010 until it was overtaken by the Port of Shanghai.

• The Port of Singapore today offers access to over 600 ports in 123 countries across six continents, with 130,000 ships docking at the port annually.
• It handles roughly 20% of all shipping containers, making it the busiest transshipment port in the world.
• With more than 200 berths and a prime location, the port serves as a link between Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
• Because of its modern facilities logistics and transportation infrastructure as well as its superior container handling capabilities, the Port of Singapore is a hub for international trade and business.
• Major imports include computers, optical, technical, and medical apparatus, gems, precious metals, electrical machinery, equipment, and mineral fuels, including oil. Petroleum, chemical products, electrical machinery, other manufactured goods, and oil bunkers are among the top exports.

1. Port of Shanghai

The Port of Shanghai is the busiest port in the world, having handled over 43 million TEUs of containers in 2023.

• The Port of Shanghai is an important gateway for China’s trade and commerce with the rest of the globe.
• It is located in the heart of China’s economic superpower, the Yangtze River Delta.
• With 200 berths and modern facilities gear and equipment, the port can handle large ships and cargo with ease.
• A hub for global trade and commerce, the Port of Shanghai’s strategic location and advanced infrastructure only serve to enhance its importance.
• The Shanghai Port also includes the Shanghai Yangshan Deep Water Port, the biggest automated container port globally.

Conclusion

The top ten busiest ports in the world are all in Asia, except the port of Jebel Ali in the UAE. This shows Asia’s increasing significance in the world economy. The ports included in this article deal with a variety of commodities, such as automobiles, bulk products, and containers. They are an integral part of the world’s supply chain, and the world economy depends on their continuous expansion. With more than 43.5 million TEUs handled in 2022, the Port of Shanghai is the busiest worldwide.

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FAQs on Top 10 Busiest Ports in the World

What is the No 1 Busiest port in the world?

Located in Shanghai, China, Shanghai Port is the busiest port in the world. As the world’s largest container port, it handles more than 43 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of goods annually.

Which port ranks as the busiest in terms of container throughput?

Shanghai Port in China consistently ranks as the busiest port in the world in terms of container throughput.

What factors contribute to the high traffic in the busiest ports?

Several factors contribute to the high traffic in these ports, including their strategic locations, efficient infrastructure, trade policies, economic activities in their regions, and connectivity to global markets.

What is the busiest port in 2023?

Shanghai Port in China ranks as the busiest port in the world in terms of container throughput in 2023.

How does the size of a port impact its ranking among the top 10?

Generally, larger ports with extensive facilities and capabilities for handling various types of cargo tend to rank higher among the busiest ports globally.

Why are these ports so busy?

They’re busy because they’re in great locations, have good infrastructure, and are connected to lots of other places for trading things like toys, clothes, and electronics.

What is the second busiest port in the world?

Port of Singapore is the second busiest port in the world.

What are the five busiest ports in the world?

The busiest container ports in the world are Shanghai, Singapore, Shenzhen, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Hong Kong, Busan, and Guangzhou.