Container Trades Statistics Ltd (CTS) Reports Robust First-Half Growth to 98.4 Million TEUs Despite Middle East Gulf Disruption, While Global Price Index Climbs 30 Points YTD


LONDON — Global containerized trade continued to defy geopolitical headwinds and regional supply chain friction during the first half of 2026, registering a healthy 5.2% year-on-year increase to reach 98.4 million TEUs, according to the latest market data released by Container Trades Statistics Ltd (CTS).

The impressive H1 performance—which also represents a 9.8% expansion compared to the same period in 2024—underscores the underlying resilience of international trade networks as carriers and shippers adapt to persistent structural reroutings.

Key Drivers and Regional Growth Divergence

While global numbers reflect steady expansion, underlying trade lane dynamics reveal stark regional disparities:

  • Far East Export Dominance: Outbound shipments from the Far East served as the primary engine of global volume growth, climbing 9% year-on-year and injecting an additional five million TEUs into international transit corridors.

  • Shifting Import Demand: While North American import demand experienced a period of flattening, robust expansion across Europe, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa sustained global volumes. Notably, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the strongest import growth globally at 15% for the first half, propelled by a nearly 30% surge in inbound cargo originating from the Far East.

  • Middle East Gulf Toll: CTS data estimates that ongoing security risks and maritime disruptions in the Middle East Gulf—particularly around the Strait of Hormuz—cost the industry up to 2 million TEUs in lost or diverted volumes during H1.

Freight Pricing Climbs Amid Persistent Market Pressures

Container freight pricing continued an upward trajectory to match tightening capacity and longer voyage loops. The CTS Global Price Index rose 13 points to reach 108 in June, accumulating a 30-point surge since the beginning of the year.

Market analysts point out that Far East-to-North America and Far East-to-Europe trade lanes experienced the sharpest monthly rate increases, driven by early-season holiday inventory front-loading and the lingering financial burden of extended vessel transits around Africa's Cape of Good Hope.

Although daily throughput figures remained robust—averaging roughly 570,000 TEUs per day in June—industry experts advise logistics leadership to maintain flexible multi-modal arrangements to navigate ongoing rate volatility and equipment imbalances heading into the autumn peak shipping season.