About The Industry


Trade Statistics

Statistics regarding the volume of cargo transported are compiled by individual governments, the United Nations and a number of private enterprises. Statistics relevant for the analysis of international trade can be obtained from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Global Summary of Liner Trade

On the export side, liner trade is dominated by countries in East Asia. Liner exports are also highly concentrated, with the top ten exporting nations accounting for more than two-thirds of the total liner export value, and Greater China (including mainland China, Hong Kong S.A.R. and Taiwan, China) account for 28 percent of the value of liner exports and 30 percent of the global volume of containerized exports.

 

European Union Summary of Liner Trade

On both the export and import side, European Union's liner trade is dominated by Germany, which accounts for 20 percent of EU liner exports and 17 percent of EU liner imports. The top four exporters and importers of the European Union (which include Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) also rank within the top 20 globally.

 

Top 20 Exporters of Containerized Cargo, 2009 and 2010

Rank EXPORTER

2009 TEUS (Millions)

2010 TEUS (Millions)
1 China 26.1 31.3
2 United States 10.2 11.2
3 Japan 4.8 5.7
4 South Korea 4.5 5.2
5 Taiwan, China  2.9 3.4
6 Thailand 3.0 3.4
7 Germany 2.6 3.0
8 Indonesia 2.7 3.0
9 Malaysia  2.2 2.5
10 Brazil 2.3 2.3
11 India 1.6 1.9
12 Vietnam 1.3 1.6
13 Saudi Arabia  1.1 1.6
14 Italy  1.5 1.6
15 Turkey 1.4 1.6
16 Netherlands 1.4 1.6
17 Canada  1.4 1.5
18 United Kingdom  1.4 1.5
19 France 1.2 1.3
20 Hong Kong 1.2 1.3
  World Total
99.8 114.3

Note: TEUs are fully loaded.
Source: IHS Global Insight, World Trade Service

Top 20 Importers of Containerized Cargo, 2009 and 2010

Rank IMPORTER

2009 TEUS (Millions)

2010 TEUS (Millions)
1 United States 15.0 17.6
2 China 11.2 12.0
3 Japan 5.4 6.1
4 South Korea 3.9 4.5
5 Germany 2.4 2.8
6 Other Arabian Gulf 2.3 2.7
7 United Kingdom 2.3 2.5
8 Indonesia 2.1 2.5
9 Taiwan  2.2 2.5
10 Hong Kong  2.3 2.5
11 Western Africa  2.5 2.4
12 United Arab Emirates 2.0 2.1
13 Malaysia 1.7 2.1
14 Thailand 1.6 2.0
15 Vietnam 1.8 2.0
16 India  1.7 2.0
17 Brazil  1.3 1.9
18 Austrailia 1.5 1.8
19 Italy 1.6 1.8
20 Netherlands 1.3 1.7
  World Total  99.7  114.3

Note: TEUs are fully loaded.
Source: IHS Global Insight, World Trade Service

Top 20 European Union Containerized Exports

Rank EXPORTER

2010 TEUS
1 Germany 3,036,978
2 Italy  1,635,234
3 Netherlands  1,585,773
4 United Kingdom  1,469,172
5 France  1,328,393
6 Spain  1,201,957
7 Belgium  1,104,244
8 Sweden  597,604
9 Finland  584,255
10 Austria  452,709
11 Portugal  288,368
12 Denmark  267,874
13 Poland  225,379
14 Greece  195,839
15 Ireland  184,360
16 Czech Republic  162,134
17 Romania 151,761
18 Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania)  105,315
19 Hungary  85,934
20 Bulgaria  63,195
  EU Total  14,846,543

Note: TEUs are fully loaded.
Source: IHS Global Insight, World Trade Service

Top 20 European Union Containerized Imports

Rank IMPORTER

2010 TEUS
1

Germany

 2,841,570
2 United Kingdom 2,513,450
3 Italy 1,766,774
4 Netherlands 1,656,708
5 France 1,547,080
6 Belgium 1,464,825
7 Spain 1,433,358
8 Poland 555,338
9 Sweden 371,186
10 Czech Republic 310,237
11 Denmark 254,702
12 Greece 238,948
13 Austria 237,873
14 Finland 236,095
15 Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania)  222,293
16 Portugal 207,965
17 Ireland 203,872
18 Romania 163,165
19 Hungary 161,881
20 Slovak Republic 144,099
  EU Total  16,779,910

Note: TEUs are fully loaded; Intra-European trade is not included; Belgium includes Luxemburg; EU does not include Cyprus and Malta.
Source: IHS Global Insight, World Trade Service