According to Alphaliner’s latest report, Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, the largest container port in the Middle East, has reentered the top 10 global container ports. It has surpassed Europe’s largest port, highlighting the significant economic challenges faced by Europe.
In 2023, Jebel Ali handled 14.47 million TEUs, up from 13.97 million TEUs in 2022, marking its return to the top 10 after a previous drop in 2019. This resurgence has displaced Hong Kong from the top 10, as container throughput at Hong Kong port decreased by 14% from the previous year, totaling 14.34 million TEUs.
Hong Kong has experienced a decline in container throughput for seven consecutive years, with its container traffic now reduced by a third over the past decade.
Rotterdam, which was ahead of Dubai in 2019, saw a 7% drop in container volumes in 2023, handling 13.45 million TEUs. This represents a second consecutive year of decline. The impact of sanctions on Dutch ports, the loss of nearly all Russian goods, and a significant reduction in European consumer demand have contributed to this downturn. Volumes are now 9% below 2019 levels.
Meanwhile, ports in China have shown strong growth, with Qingdao recording the highest increase among major global gateways. Qingdao handled approximately 30 million TEUs in 2023 (estimated figures as of December 2023 due to changes in China’s reporting rules) and is now competing with Shenzhen, which handled 29.9 million TEUs, for the position of the fourth-largest container port in the world.
Despite a weaker growth outlook for 2024, with Western demand weakening in the fourth quarter but strong exports to Russia, China’s dominance in the global market has strengthened in 2023. Chinese ports now account for more than half (51%) of the top 30 global market throughput, up from 49% in 2022. Overall, the top 30 ports experienced an average growth of 1.7% during the year, showing an improvement from 2022.
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