The Drewry Container Port Throughput Indices are a series of calendar adjusted volume growth/decline indices based on monthly throughput data for a sample of over 340 ports worldwide, representing over 80% of global volumes. The base point for the indices is January 2019 = 100.

Drewry has developed a nowcasting model that uses vessel capacity and terminal duration data (derived from our proprietary AIS model) to make short-term predictions of port throughput.

Source: Drewry Ports and Terminals Insight (Jan 2019 = 100, calendar adjusted)

Drewry’s latest assessment

• Drewry’s Global Container Port Throughput Index increased 1.4% MoM and 5.4% YoY in May. Meanwhile, the rolling 12-month average growth rate for global port handling remained steady at 6.5% for the third month in a row. The Middle East and South Asia region is leading the way in YTD growth, with volumes up 9.2%. North America and Greater China are not too far behind, at 7.7% and 6.9%, respectively. Oceania remains the only region reporting a decline, with May YTD throughput falling 2.6%.
• The Greater China Container Port Throughput Index softened slightly in May 2025, falling 0.4% MoM to 124.9 points, but up 4.5% YoY. The 12-month average growth rate in Greater China fell to 6.3%, just below the global average. The largest ports in the region continue to experience robust growth, with the top 5 ports up 7.2% YoY on average in May. Shanghai in particular had a good month, with volumes surging 10.2% YoY.
• The North American Container Port Throughput Index fell 8.0% MoM in May to 109.3 points, but was up 2.7% YoY. The rolling 12-month average growth rate reduced slightly, but remained in double digits, at 10.1%. Volumes at the major west coast ports slid back in May due to impact of the US government’s ’Liberation Day’ tariffs. Throughput at Long Beach slumped 26.3% MoM (down 8.2% YoY) while at Los Angeles it fell 15% MoM (down 4.8% YoY). Volumes also fell 10.4% YoY at Manzanillo, 9.6% YoY at Seattle and 0.3% YoY at Oakland. Only Vancouver and Lazaro Cardenas bucked the trend, with volumes rising 13.9% YoY and 12.6% YoY, respectively.
• The European Container Port Throughput Index rose 3.7% MoM in May, up 5.3% YoY to 113.7 points. The rolling 12-month average growth rate increased to 5.4%, remaining below the global average of 6.5%. Port Said East reported record-breaking throughput in May 2025-volumes for surged 20% MoM, up over 50% YoY, with YTD throughput at the East Med hub 18% higher than last year.
  Source: Drewry