Piraeus port sees modest rise in container volumes amid Suez Canal easing

In May 2026 the Piraeus container terminal (Terminals II and III) handled 347,000 TEUs, a 2.8% increase over the same month in 2025 and marking the second consecutive monthly rise and the best performance in the last twelve months. Yet the cumulative volume for the first five months of 2026 fell to 1.628 million TEUs, down 2.8% from the comparable period in 2025, keeping the overall picture for the first half of the year negative.

Market participants note that a possible restoration of more container ships through the Suez Canal could further strengthen Piraeus’s role as a key transshipment hub in the Eastern Mediterranean. Maersk reported that the containership Maersk Baltimore and another vessel successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz and exited the Persian Gulf on the night of 24‑25 June after extensive risk assessments, with three additional ships remaining in the Gulf and another passage planned pending safety conditions.

International freight rates are also climbing. The Drewry World Container Index rose 5% to $4,166 per 40‑foot container, the highest level since September 2024, driven by strong increases in trans‑Atlantic lane rates. Spot rates from Shanghai to New York rose 6% to $7,149, while Shanghai‑Los Angeles rates jumped 12% to $5,750. Drewry forecasts only four route cancellations next week, indicating limited capacity, while demand on the Asia‑U.S. lane stays robust and a General Rate Increase (GRI) plus Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) are slated for July.