Record volumes redefine container shipping

As the year closed, global container volumes reached an unprecedented 192.9 million teu, confirming 2025 as one of the strongest years the industry has ever recorded. December capped the year with an exceptional 16.97 million teu, narrowly missing the 17 million milestone and setting yet another monthly lifting record.

Alongside March, May and August, it was one of four months to establish new highs, reinforcing the theme of sustained strength rather than short-lived peaks.

Eight of the twelve months in 2025 exceeded 16 million teu, a threshold that had been reached only three times in 2024. December volumes rose 2.6% month on month and were 4.7% higher than December 2024, which itself had been a record at the time. This consistency underlines how elevated volumes have become the new normal for global container trade.

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However, pricing told a different story, says CTS. The Global Price Index edged up by just two points in December to finish the year at 77, still almost 20% lower than at the end of 2024. Despite record volumes, price volatility narrowed significantly, fluctuating by only 21 points over the year compared with 35 points in 2024. This divergence suggests that the long-established relationship between supply, demand and pricing may be evolving.

Regionally, export growth was led by the Indian Sub-Continent and Middle East, while the Far East remained the dominant exporter in absolute terms, driven by strong intra-regional trade. On the import side, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and South & Central America all delivered standout growth, with European imports from the Far East reaching unprecedented levels.

As the industry looks ahead, 2025 will be remembered not just for its scale, but for the new questions it raises. With record volumes no longer guaranteeing higher prices and geopolitical risks lingering into 2026, the container shipping market enters the new year on strong footing but facing fresh uncertainty.