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. Information regarding container trade with Europe, can be secured from Container Trade Statistics, Ltd. 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 thirty percent of the value of liner exports and almost thirty-two percent of the global volume of containerized exports.

Top 20 Exporters of Liner Goods by Value, 2007 (Million USD, Thousand Metric Tons)

Rank Top Exporters Value Share of Value Tons Share of Tons
1 China 1,077,128 23.3% 226,340 22.6%
2 Japan 563,540 12.2% 69,122 6.9%
3 South Korea 245,608 5.3% 47,194 4.7%
4 Taiwan, China 218,945 4.7% 34,045 3.4%
5 United States 214,354 4.6% 89,291 8.9%
6 Germany 212,283 4.6% 25,411 2.5%
7 Thailand 118,326 2.6% 37,720 3.8%
8 Other Region* 111,420 2.4% 21,174 2.1%
9 Singapore 110,283 2.4% 12,513 1.2%
10 Hong Kong S.A.R., China 98,994 2.1% 13,342 1.3%
11 United Kingdom 95,216 2.1% 12,778 1.3%
12 Netherlands 93,639 2.0% 12,834 1.3%
13 France 91,497 2.0% 12,987 1.3%
14 Italy 89,240 1.9% 16,854 1.7%
15 Malaysia 86,698 1.9% 22,602 2.3%
16 India 67,962 1.5% 15,258 1.5%
17 Indonesia 64,684 1.4% 27,836 2.8%
18 Russia 61,990 1.3% 9,516 0.9%
19 Brazil 58,493 1.3% 27,186 2.7%
20 Turkey 55,749 1.2% 12,284 1.2%
  Rest of World 888,250 19.2% 257,180 25.6%
  TOTAL 4,624,298 100.0% 1,003,465 100.0%

Source: IHS Global Insight, World Trade Service.

Top 20 Exporters of Containerized Cargo, 2007

Rank EXPORTER TEUS (Millions) % Share
1 China 31.9 26.5%
2 United States 9.7 8.1%
3 Japan 7.0 5.8%
4 South Korea 5.3 4.4%
5 Thailand 4.2 3.5%
6 Taiwan, China 4.2 3.5%
7 Other Region* 3.9 3.3%
8 Indonesia 3.1 2.6%
9 Germany 2.9 2.4%
10 Brazil 2.7 2.3%
11 Malaysia 2.7 2.2%
12 Italy 1.9 1.6%
13 Hong Kong S.A.R., China 1.8 1.5%
14 India 1.7 1.4%
15 Canada 1.6 1.3%
16 United Kingdom 1.5 1.3%
17 Singapore 1.5 1.3%
18 Netherlands 1.5 1.3%
19 France 1.5 1.2%
20 Vietnam 1.4 1.2%
  Rest of World 28.1 23.4%
  TOTAL 120.2 100.0%
Note: TEUs are fully loaded.  

Source: IHS Global Insight, World Trade Service

* Other Region includes Antartica, Brunei, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Kiribati, Korea Democratic Peoples Republic, Laos Peoples Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Mongolia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Helena and the Solomon Islands.

Imports by liner ships are more dispersed worldwide than exports, with the top ten importing nations accounting for about 57 percent of the total liner import value. The United States is the top importer with almost 14 percent of the liner value and over 16 percent of the containerized trade. However, mainland China, which is the largest exporter by a large margin, is the second largest importer indicating its importance to global trade.

Top 20 Importers of Liner Goods by Value, 2007 (Million USD, Thousand Metric Tons)

Rank Top Importers Value Share of Value Tons Share of Tons
1 United States 635,542 13.7% 152,406 15.2%
2 China 518,074 11.2% 118,967 11.9%
3 Other Region* 353,518 7.6% 24,644 2.5%
4 Japan 280,001 6.1% 56,295 5.6%
5 Germany 172,672 3.7% 23,161 2.3%
6 Hong Kong S.A.R., China 156,320 3.4% 23,511 2.3%
7 South Korea 155,034 3.4% 43,267 4.3%
8 United Kingdom 139,538 3.0% 21,761 2.2%
9 Taiwan, China 109,561 2.4% 27,913 2.8%
10 United Arab Emirates 108,023 2.3% 21,320 2.1%
11 Singapore 98,931 2.1% 13,887 1.4%
12 France 91,214 2.0% 13,803 1.4%
13 Australia 90,941 2.0% 14,321 1.4%
14 Canada 89,801 1.9% 12,957 1.3%
15 Netherlands 81,145 1.8% 14,324 1.4%
16 Thailand 70,028 1.5% 17,586 1.8%
17 Other Persian Gulf 69,759 1.5% 24,048 2.4%
18 Malaysia 68,964 1.5% 20,058 2.0%
19 Mexico 66,329 1.4% 9,146 0.9%
20 Italy 64,903 1.4% 17,486 1.7%
  Rest of World 1,204,000 26.0% 332,603 33.1%
  TOTAL 4,624,298 100.0% 1,003,465 100.0%

Source: IHS Global Insight, World Trade Service

Top 20 Importers of Containerized Cargo, 2007

Rank IMPORTER TEUS (Millions) % Share
1 United States 19.6 16.3%
2 China 13.6 11.3%
3 Japan 6.7 5.6%
4 South Korea 4.5 3.7%
5 Other Region* 3.8 3.2%
6 United Arab Emirates 3.1 2.6%
7 Hong Kong S.A.R., China 3.0 2.5%
8 Germany 3.0 2.5%
9 United Kingdom 3.0 2.5%
10 Taiwan, China 2.8 2.3%
11 Other Persian Gulf 2.7 2.2%
12 Indonesia 2.2 1.8%
13 Malaysia 2.2 1.8%
14 Italy 2.1 1.8%
15 Western Africa 1.9 1.6%
16 Thailand 1.9 1.6%
17 Spain 1.9 1.6%
18 France 1.8 1.5%
19 Vietnam 1.7 1.5%
20 Netherlands 1.7 1.4%
  Rest of World 36.9 30.7%
  Total 120.2 100.0%

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

* Other Region includes Antartica, Brunei, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Kiribati, Korea Democratic Peoples Republic, Laos Peoples Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Mongolia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Helena and the Solomon Islands.