Strong Resilience in Global Container Trade Amid Regional Divergence — Market Analysis and Strategies

As we enter the final quarter of 2025, global container trade continues to demonstrate strong resilience, despite significant regional variations in market performance. This trend brings both new opportunities and challenges to the global shipping market. For freight forwarding companies, understanding these trends and adjusting strategies accordingly will be key to future success.

1. Global Container Trade Exceeds Expectations

According to the latest container trade statistics (CTS), global container trade volume in August 2025 reached 16.61 million TEUs, surpassing the earlier forecast and setting a new record for the year. While the month-on-month growth rate was relatively modest, the total trade volume for the first eight months of 2025 has already exceeded 126.75 million TEUs, marking a 4.4% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This performance has exceeded market expectations, highlighting the strong resilience of the global shipping market.

Impact:
Despite global economic uncertainty, container trade volume remains robust, indicating that global supply chains are adapting well under pressure. For shipping companies and freight forwarders, this is a positive signal, as market demand remains strong, particularly in Latin America, Europe, and Africa, where import demand continues to surge.

2. Significant Regional Differences in Performance

However, regional variations in performance are becoming more pronounced. According to Maersk's "Asia Pacific Third Quarter Market Insights," Latin America, Europe, and Africa have seen rapid growth in import demand, and exports from Central Asia and the Far East have remained stable. On the other hand, the North American market faces greater challenges, especially with US import volumes showing little growth compared to the 2011-2019 average.

Impact:
These regional disparities suggest that different regions are experiencing different market cycles. The North American market remains sluggish, likely due to ongoing tariff policies and macroeconomic uncertainty. In contrast, Asia's internal trade and Middle Eastern routes have remained more stable, with exports from the Far East continuing at high levels, particularly on Far East-to-other regions routes, which have seen double-digit growth.

3. US Tariff Policies Adding Uncertainty

US tariff policies, particularly the Trump 2.0 tariffs, continue to have a significant impact on US import volumes. In September 2025, container imports from China dropped by 22.9% year-on-year. According to data from Descartes, the container import volume at the top 10 US ports also saw a decline in September, especially at West Coast and East Coast ports, highlighting the influence of tariff uncertainty on importers.

Impact:
The uncertainty surrounding tariffs is causing US importers to be more cautious, particularly during peak seasons, leading to a drop in container import volumes. For freight forwarding companies, this serves as a reminder that client demand may be affected by policy changes. Companies need to remain flexible in adjusting shipping plans and proactively manage supply chains.

4. Future Outlook

Although global container trade has shown strong growth, the market remains in a state of flux, with regional differences becoming more pronounced. Changes in tariff policies and macroeconomic uncertainty may present new challenges for the shipping industry. Freight forwarding companies must be agile, adjusting their strategies based on these changes and staying attuned to market shifts to ensure continued success.

Conclusion

In 2025, global container trade has shown strong growth, but regional market differences have presented both opportunities and challenges. By conducting precise market analysis, adjusting route networks flexibly, and responding promptly to tariff policy changes, freight forwarding companies can maintain their competitive edge in this dynamic market environment and continue to drive business growth.