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Global container volumes rebounded in October, increasing 2.8% month-on-month at 16.3 million TEUs, according to Container Trades Statistics Ltd.’s latest data
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This signals an unexpected “record-breaking” performance for the year
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Import growth remains positive year-to-date across all regions except North America, where a 2% decline was recorded compared to 2024
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Sub-Saharan Africa takes the top spot for regional import growth, up 16% year-to-date
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For exports, the Far East continued to be on the lead with shipments up nearly 5.2 million TEUs
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Overall, while container volumes continued to be strong, signs of weakening have appeared in several key trade indices, alongside a continued softening of the Global Price Index
Global container volumes rebounded in October, increasing 2.8% month-on-month at 16.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), signalling a surprisingly unexpected strong performance for the entire 2025, according to Container Trades Statistics Ltd.’s (CTS) latest data.
The global liftings for October was the 6th time this year that volumes exceeded the 16M-TEU threshold.
In 2024, global volumes surpassed 16M TEUs only twice, a figure that was already considered remarkable at the time.
“As we enter the final quarter of 2025, it is safe to say that the year is on track to be a record-breaking one,” CTS said in a press release.
The data service provider for the World Liner Data Limited One noted that this year has “redefined expectations for global container volumes, and the months ahead will determine how this historic year concludes.”
Year-on-year, October’s performance represents a 2% increase, while year-to-date global volumes stand 4% higher than the same period in 2024, underscoring the sustained strength of the market.
The Global Price Index dropped a further 3 points in October, standing now at 73 points. CTS said this is the lowest the index has been in 2025, currently 21 points under where the index stood at the beginning of the year.
Import growth remains positive year-to-date across all regions except North America, where a 2% decline was recorded compared to 2024.
“Despite earlier concerns, this is a smaller pullback than expected. The reduction in cargo from the Far East appears to have been partially offset by increased volumes from Europe, the Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa,” CTS said.
The Far East still accounts for approximately 68% of North America’s total imports despite scaling back exports to the region, demonstrating the continued dominance of the Transpacific trade.
Meanwhile, Sub-Saharan Africa takes the top spot for regional import growth, up 16% year-to-date. The increase is driven mainly by strong cargo flows from the Far East, the Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East, and surprisingly North America, which takes the top spot.
“These developing markets have played a pivotal role in supporting overall global volumes, offsetting challenges in major trade lanes,” CTS said.
But despite the higher volumes moving into Sub-Saharan Africa, all price indices going into the region have remained stable in 2025.
Exports, on the other hand, were flat for North America and Europe.
European exports grew by just 15,000 TEUs so far this year in contrast with imports that were up by nearly two million TEUs.
Europe’s exports to the Far East declined by approximately 8%, and any regional increases in exports from Europe were minimal, suggesting subdued demand.
“While North America’s stagnation may come as little surprise, Europe’s widening trade imbalance is more striking,” CTS said.
The Far East continued to be on the lead with exports up nearly 5.2 million TEUs compared to 2024.
This growth has largely been driven by the surge in trade between the Far East and the Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East.
From a percentage standpoint, the Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East recorded the strongest growth, with exports rising 8% in the first ten months of 2025 against the same period last year. This growth is spread evenly across most major regions, highlighting the broad-based resilience of this trade lane.
Overall, CTS noted that while container volumes continued to be strong, signs of weakening have appeared in several key trade indices, alongside a continued softening of the Global Price Index.
For the coming year, CTS said conditions and trends to watch out for include Europe’s widening import-export imbalance, the Far East’s volume momentum, and the role of emerging “smaller” markets in supporting global growth.
READ: Global container volume up 4.4% in Jan-Aug 2025, beating expectations for the year
