by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

In 2024, global container volumes experienced a notable increase. Volumes grew by 6.2%, with a significant 21% rise in demand for TEU-miles. 

These findings by shipping research and analysis firm Sea Intelligence highlight global growth, contrary to initial fears of adverse market developments.

According to the firm’s new analysis, last year's diversions around Africa increased the global demand for TEU miles.

“The Red Sea crisis has resulted in year-on-year demand growth rates, which materially exceed the demand growth spike during the pandemic period,” says Sea Intelligence. 

The flow of containerized cargo from Asia to North America saw the highest growth among the seven regions tracked by Container Trade Statistics, with a 12% increase in 2024. This was followed by cargo to Latin America, Europe, and Oceania. 

Overall, global volumes grew by 10.7 million TEU in 2024 compared to 2023. Seven trade lanes experienced a decrease in volumes totalling 920,000 TEU, while the remaining 42 lanes saw an increase of 11.6 million TEU. 

The most significant declines were in container trade from Europe to the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East, followed by back-haul freight from Europe to the Far East and from the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East to Africa.

China's ports saw high congestion levels at the beginning of the year.

Shanghai processed a record 5 million containers in January 2025, driven by companies rushing to ship products before US tariffs took effect and ahead of a long local holiday.

This record surpassed any previous month since 2007. Despite the record, trade flows slowed in the last week of January and the first week of February due to the Lunar New Year holiday. Nearby, the Ningbo port also saw a spike in cargo, reporting 59 million tons of foreign trade processed last month.