Global container shipping shows divergent trends in Europe and North America

European container traffic saw a 3.8% increase in the first half of 2026, reaching 29.6 million TEUs. According to Container Trades Statistics, this growth was driven by a 7.9% rise in imports, particularly from the Far East, which grew by 12.6%. Conversely, exports fell by 1.4%, with notable declines in shipments to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.

In the United States, the Northwest Seaport Alliance reported a 4.2% decline in total container volume for July 2026 compared to the previous year. Year-to-date volumes through July are down 11.3%. While container volumes have struggled, breakbulk tonnage has risen 19.2% due to industrial demand. Additionally, HMM has announced an investment at Washington United Terminals to expand annual cargo-handling capacity from 590,000 TEUs to 880,000 TEUs by 2028.