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.

Drewry’s latest assessment
• Drewry’s Global Container Port Throughput Index increased 3.4% MoM and 6.6% YoY in March to reach an all-time high of 119.9 points. Meanwhile, the rolling 12-month average growth rate for global port handling remained steady at 6.4%.
• For 1Q25, North America recorded the most growth in throughput, up 9.0% YoY, closely followed by the Middle East & South Asia region at 8.3% and Greater China at 7.7%. Oceania remains the only region reporting a decline, with 1Q25 throughput falling 4.5% YoY.
• The Greater China Container Port Throughput Index increased 8.4% MoM to 122.6 points in March, up 8.7% YoY, while the 12-month average growth rate in Greater China rose to 6.3%. There has been a strong start to the year across many of the largest ports with 1Q25 throughput at Shenzhen rising over 17% YoY, and volumes Ningbo up by more than 10%. Container throughput at Qingdao and Guangzhou grew by 7.4% and 7.0%, respectively, and Shanghai rounds out the Top 5 with 6.1% YoY growth.
• The North American Container Port Throughput Index rose just 1.0% MoM in March to 118.0 points, but was up by a significant 12.9% YoY suggesting front-loading of cargo to avoid tariffs. The rolling 12-month average growth rate decreased slightly to 10.2%. Volumes at major USWC ports have been robust in 1Q25 with throughput at Los Angeles rising 8.7% and at Long Beach surging 26.6% YoY. Seattle saw a 19% increase, while Oakland experienced a 6.3% YoY rise in 1Q25 volumes.
• The Middle East and South Asia Container Port Throughput Index increased 0.7% in March, up 7.7% YoY, while the 12-month rolling average growth rate rose to 4.7%. Ports in the Gulf have seen volumes growing strongly with 1Q25 throughput at Jebel Ali up 10% YoY, Saudi’s Dammam port up 18.4% and Qatar’s Hamad port up 6.4%. Indian port volumes have likewise had a good first quarter – Mundra’s throughput increased 11.6% YoY, Jawaharlal Nehru Port’s rose 14.4% and Chennai’s 16.2%.

Source: Drewry