Global container throughput presented a mixed picture in May 2026, according to the latest operational estimates published by EconDB . While some major container ports recorded higher estimated throughput compared with the same period last year, others experienced notable declines, highlighting the different market dynamics shaping global container trade. The dataset compares estimated throughput across major international container ports during May 2026 against the corresponding period of 2025, providing an operational snapshot of how container activity has evolved across key maritime gateways. Port May 2025 (thousand TEU) May 2026 (thousand TEU) Estimated change Singapore 3,480 2,767 -20.5% Busan 1,837 1,632 -11.2% Shanghai 2,570 1,411 -45.1% Ningbo 1,773 1,193 -32.7% Tanjung Pelepas 1,211 1,120 -7.5% Rotterdam 910 947 +4.1% Tanger Med 915 897 -2.0% Qingdao 1,418 817 -42.4% Antwerp 1,077 805 -25.3% Colombo 689 714 +3.6%   Estimated throughput declines dominate May Most ports included in the May dataset recorded lower estimated throughput compared with the same month in 2025. Shanghai is estimated to have recorded one of the largest year-on-year declines, with throughput decreasing by approximately 45%. Qingdao and Ningbo also registered significant estimated declines, reflecting softer activity compared with the previous year. Despite an estimated decline of around 20%, Singapore remained the busiest port in the dataset by estimated throughput, maintaining a considerable lead over the other ports included in the analysis. Rotterdam and Colombo buck the trend Not all ports followed the broader downward trend. Rotterdam is estimated to have increased throughput by approximately 4% compared with May 2025, while Colombo posted an estimated increase of around 3.6%, making them the only ports in the dataset to record positive year-on-year growth. Asia remains the centre of global container activity Despite the estimated declines recorded at several ports, Asia cont