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Global container volumes increased 8% year-on-year in September 2026, sustaining the shipping industry’s growth momentum despite a slight monthly drop after August’s record liftings, according to Container Trades Statistics Ltd.
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Global container volumes reached 17.35 million TEUs in September, up 8% from the same month last year but down 1.4% from August
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Third-quarter volumes reached 52.2 million TEUs, up 2.4% from the second quarter
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The Global Price Index rose 5.1% month-on-month to 123 points in September, marking a 62% increase year-on-year
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All regions posted year-on-year import growth in the third quarter
Global container volumes increased 8% yearon-year in September 2026, sustaining the shipping industry’s growth momentum despite a slight monthly decline following August’s record-high liftings.
Container liftings reached 17.35 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in September, down 1.4% from the previous month, according to data from Container Trades Statistics Ltd. (CTS).
CTS said the month-on-month decline should be viewed against August 2026, which recorded the highest monthly container lifting volume in its database.
Despite the pullback, September volumes remained 8% above the level recorded in the same month last year.
Year-to-date volumes were also 5% higher than the corresponding period in 2025, with growth maintaining a similar pace since June.
For the third quarter, global container volumes reached 52.2 million TEUs, up 2.4% from the second quarter, indicating continued resilience in global trade despite geopolitical and economic challenges.
Freight prices climb
Meanwhile, freight pricing pressures continued to build, with the Global Price Index rising 5.1% month on month to 123 points in September.
The index was 62% higher than its September 2025 level, reflecting the substantial increase in freight pricing over the past year.
CTS said the sustained increase in the index pointed to mounting pressures in the container shipping market, including disruptions to major shipping routes, capacity constraints and higher operating costs.
The divergence between rising freight prices and resilient cargo volumes highlights how supply-side pressures continue to influence shipping costs even as global trade expands.
READ: Global container volumes sustain uptrend, hit 17.46M TEUs in Aug
North American imports strengthen
All regions recorded year-on-year growth in imports during the third quarter, with North America posting one of the strongest performances.
North American imports increased 9% from the third quarter of 2025, driven mainly by higher cargo volumes originating from the Far East and Europe.
The growth accelerated from the 7% year-on-year increase recorded in the second quarter, suggesting that the region’s import activity continued to regain momentum following weaker performance earlier in the year.
The Indian Sub-Continent and Middle East also returned to quarterly import growth following disruptions earlier in 2026.
The region recorded an increase of approximately 6,600 TEUs, reversing the 12% decline registered in the second quarter.
Far East, Africa lead export growth
On the export side, the Far East and Sub-Saharan Africa emerged as the strongest-performing regions, each recording 8% year-on-year growth in the third quarter.
CTS noted that strong cargo flows between the two regions contributed to their respective export performances.
Europe also posted export growth, with volumes increasing 3% from the same quarter last year, supported by higher cargo flows to most destination regions.
However, the imbalance between European imports and exports remained evident. On a year-to-date basis, the region imported approximately 1.5 containers for every container it exported.
In contrast, exports from the Indian Sub-Continent and Middle East declined 7% year on year, while North American exports fell 1%, making them the only two regions to register quarterly declines.
Market pressures cloud outlook
CTS said while the global container shipping market delivered another strong performance in September, questions remain over how long the resilience can be sustained amid continuing disruptions.
The Gulf crisis, constraints surrounding the Panama Canal and mounting pressure on global shipping capacity are contributing to an increasingly complex operating environment.
Port congestion and high terminal utilization could further limit the industry’s ability to clear backlogs and maintain efficient cargo movements.
The 62% annual increase in the Global Price Index underscores how these pressures are feeding into freight pricing even as container volumes continue to expand.
As the industry enters the final quarter of 2026, CTS said attention will focus on whether September’s monthly decline represents a normal adjustment following August’s exceptionally high volumes or signals the beginning of a broader moderation in global container trade.
