World Port Profiles

Europe's second-busiest port by total freight and a global leader for chemical and petrochemical handling. Situated 80 km inland on the Scheldt, it offers extensive storage and one of Europe's largest locks (the Berendrecht and Deurganckdok).

South Korea's largest port and one of the busiest container ports in the world, handling around 22 million TEU a year. The main transshipment hub for north-east Asia, with extensive feeder connections across the region.

The main transshipment hub of South Asia, strategically located on the main east-west shipping lane through the Indian Ocean. The Colombo South Container Terminal can berth the largest containerships afloat, serving growing trade with India and the subcontinent.

Germany's largest port and Europe's third-busiest container port. Located about 110 km up the Elbe, it is the leading hub for trade with the Baltic and Asia and a major centre for ship registration, finance and maritime services.

A major natural deep-water harbour and one of the busiest container ports in the world, situated on the Pearl River Delta. Kwai Tsing Container Terminals handle the majority of throughput, with strong intermodal links into southern China.

The busiest US port by foreign tonnage and a global leader in petrochemical and energy cargo. The 80 km Houston Ship Channel connects the Gulf to one of the world's largest concentrations of refineries and the major Bayport and Barbours Cut container terminals.

The largest artificial harbour in the world and the busiest port in the Middle East, operated by DP World. It anchors the Jebel Ali Free Zone and serves as the main transshipment hub linking Asia, Europe and Africa.

France's leading container port and the first port of call for many European services from Asia. Part of the Haropa corridor with Rouen and Paris, with deep-water berths able to handle the largest containerships on the Asia-Europe trade.

The second-busiest US container port, adjacent to Los Angeles. Combined, the two San Pedro Bay ports handle the majority of US West Coast container trade with Asia. Long Beach is also a major centre for petroleum and bulk handling.

The busiest container port in the United States by TEU, handling roughly a fifth of all US containerised imports. Together with the adjacent Port of Long Beach it forms the San Pedro Bay complex, the principal West Coast gateway for trans-Pacific trade.

India's premier container gateway, with the nearby Nhava Sheva (JNPT) terminals handling the majority of the country's containerised trade. The port is the principal hub for India's western hinterland and its rapidly growing import and export market.

The largest port on the US East Coast, handling around 40% of all East Coast container traffic. The complex spans facilities in New York and New Jersey, including the major container terminals at Port Newark-Elizabeth and the Bayonne Strait.

Located at the northern entrance of the Suez Canal, one of the world's most strategic shipping chokepoints. Roughly 12% of global trade transits the canal each year, making Port Said a major bunkering, transshipment and provisioning station.

Europe's largest port and a major global transshipment hub, handling approximately 470 million tonnes of cargo per year. Operated by the Port of Rotterdam Authority. Stretches over 40 km along the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta.

Latin America's largest port by container throughput and the main export gateway for Brazil, particularly for coffee, sugar, soy and meat. Its terminals stretch along the Santos estuary and serve the industrial heartland of São Paulo state.

The world's busiest container port by throughput, handling over 47 million TEU annually. The deepwater Yangshan terminal, located on artificial islands south of the main city, handles the largest vessels. Operated by Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG).

One of the world's busiest transshipment ports, handling over 37 million TEU annually. Operated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula at the eastern end of the Strait of Malacca.

A major Malaysian container transshipment port at the eastern end of the Strait of Malacca, adjacent to Singapore. Its deep-water berths and location on the main Asia-Europe lane make it a key competing hub in south-east Asia.