By Exports from the Far East are driving the global growth in container supply in maritime trade. By the end of this summer, it had increased by +6%. The current trend has continued since the beginning of this year, according to Container Trades Statistics Limited data calculated from the beginning of 2025.
All regions generating demand for containerized goods showed growth, as was also observed at the container terminals in Gdańsk and Gdynia. The exception are North American container ports, where the supply of containerized goods has been declining since the beginning of the year. As a result, a total of 3% fewer TEU containers arrived and departed at American ports than during the previous eight months.
“In August 2025, container imports to the US reached 2,519,722 TEU,” Descartes analysts calculated precisely, and they report that this is the second-highest monthly figure this year. Volumes were 3.9% lower than in July, but 1.6% higher than in August 2024.
As a result of the reduced container supply at terminals, vessel processing problems decreased. “Transit delays at ports decreased slightly, indicating that the US infrastructure continues to handle large volumes more efficiently than in previous periods of comparable demand,” Descartes noted in “The Global Shipping Report.”
Source: China Shipping Administration. Graphic: Statista
American Ports on the Slow Track
American imports from China fell to 869,523 TEU in August of this year, a 5.8% decline compared to July and a 10.8% decline compared to August 2024. This decline follows a rebound in July. The increased imports were driven by seasonal demand and logisticians increasing their advance loading ahead of US tariff deadlines.
Undoubtedly, all changes in container shipping on ocean routes are driven by the active export policy of the Chinese government. It supports Chinese manufacturers’ efforts to increase sales in foreign markets. These efforts began even before the recent trade war between China and the United States.
China has been struggling with low domestic demand for some time now, and its economy is showing signs of slowing. President Donald Trump’s decisions have only confirmed the wisdom of earlier decisions to broaden the directions of economic expansion. As before, in 2025 China will direct more goods to ASEAN countries, India, and Africa, as well as to the European Union, another important trading partner for China.
Source: MAFCON. Graphics: Global Times
ASEAN Rescues Maritime Container Market
CTS data shows that container ships loaded a record 16.6 million tons of TEU this month, breaking the previous record set in May of this year by a mere 13,000 TEU, or practically one average container ship. New records are hard to beat when, “The basic truth is that container shipping dynamics are declining rapidly, although there are extremely different trajectories depending on the region,” notes Simon Heaney, Senior Manager, Container Research at Drewry.
Container loadings on ships improved globally in August by just 0.2% month-on-month. Year-on-year growth reached 2.8%, the second lowest this year. In a weak February, supply at container terminals increased by only 1%. The 12-month rolling average fell to 4.7% year-on-year, according to CTS. This is an unfavorable situation following the 7.8% increase in container shipments recorded in August 2024.
“Supply has been falling on average for six consecutive months,” says Simon Heaney. This result is influenced by the fluctuating dynamics of demand for containerized goods in different regions. The differences are significant, with the range between the regions analyzed by CTS ranging from 7.5% for South Asia and the Middle East to a 1.2% decline in imports for North America. These changes can also be explained by the search for maritime channels for re-exporting goods from China, which are essential for markets subject to increased tariffs or non-tariff restrictions.
Container imports by the US. Source: Descartes
Fluctuations in exports and imports
Analysis of container flows by region over the past 12 months shows significant fluctuations in exports and imports. In August 2024, the moving average of imports from North America was high, reaching almost 14% year-on-year, but in the same month in 2025, it recorded only 2.3% year-on-year, with a nearly linear decline. Imports from Sub-Saharan Africa, on the other hand, have been growing rapidly since around March, currently showing an average increase of 12%.
The decline in demand for goods in the United States did not significantly disrupt the global market over the longer term. Container turnover was influenced by the continuing trend of developing cooperation in Asia.
Loaded container transport. Source: CTS. Graphics: Drewry
Trade volume between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has increased by 120% over the past 10 years, surging from $443.6 billion in 2013 to $975.3 billion by 2022, Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei announced at a press conference two years ago. Trade in this region has already reached $982.3 billion in 2024, and this is reflected in the container transport map.
EU countries are also benefiting from the disruption in trade with the US. According to the China Customs Administration, Chinese exports to the EU exceeded $51 billion in August of this year, and to ASEAN countries even $57 billion – a significant increase for both partners. Meanwhile, exports from the United States fell to just $31.6 billion, a 33% year-on-year decline. Nevertheless, the United States remains the largest buyer of Chinese goods.