A Shake-Up at the World’s Busiest Container Ports

The world’s busiest container ports have seen a significant shake-up in the first half of 2026, with Ningbo-Zhoushan moving into second place and Jebel Ali experiencing a dramatic fall down the rankings.

According to figures from Alphaliner, Ningbo-Zhoushan handled 22.90 million TEU in the first six months of 2026, an 8.8% increase on the same period last year.

That was enough to narrowly overtake Singapore, which handled 22.74 million TEU, up 4.7%.

The difference between the two ports was just 160,000 TEU, making it a very close race for second place behind Shanghai, which remained comfortably on top with 28.74 million TEU.

But the bigger story may be Jebel Ali

While Ningbo-Zhoushan's rise is significant, the biggest movement in the rankings came from Dubai's Jebel Ali.

Jebel Ali handled just 3.14 million TEU in the first half of 2026, compared with 7.77 million TEU during the same period in 2025.

That represents a decline of more than 59%, and saw Jebel Ali fall from 10th place globally to 32nd.

The drop is closely linked to the disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, which has had a major impact on vessel traffic and cargo flows through the region.

Jebel Ali remains an important regional logistics hub, but the numbers show just how quickly geopolitical events can affect the volumes moving through even the world's major ports.

What does this mean for shipping?

Port rankings can sometimes look like little more than statistics, but they provide an interesting snapshot of where global cargo is moving.

Ningbo-Zhoushan's growth reflects continued strength in Chinese exports, with the port also expanding its capacity and adding international services. Alphaliner expects the contest between Ningbo-Zhoushan and Singapore for second place to continue, particularly as Ningbo's growth rate begins to moderate.

At the same time, the sharp fall at Jebel Ali shows how quickly a major disruption can reshape established trade routes.

For Australian importers and exporters, these changes are worth watching. Ports, shipping routes and transhipment hubs are all connected, and when cargo flows shift in one part of the world, the effects can work their way through the wider network.

The rankings may change again before the end of the year, particularly with Ningbo-Zhoushan and Singapore separated by such a narrow margin.

It will be interesting to see who is sitting in second place when the next set of numbers comes out.