CONTAINER exports from Asia to Europe reached 16.58 million TEU in 2023, according to data compiled by the Japan Maritime Centre (JMC) using information from Container Trades Statistics (CTS).
The Japan International Freight Forwarders Association (JIFFA) stated that this marked a 7.8 per cent increase from the previous year and brought the figures back to pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019, reports Greece's Container News.
By origin, containers from China swelled 9.5 per cent to 12.5 million TEU, leading the overall outbound container movement. Those from Northeast Asia were brisk as well, accomplishing a double-digit improvement of 12.1 per cent to a total of 1.83 million TEU. On the other hand, containers from Southeast Asia fell 3.7 per cent to 2.24 million TEU.
By destination, container exports from Asia increased across the board. To Europe, they went up 1.4 per cent to 10.22 million TEU; to the Western Mediterranean, 11.4 per cent to 3.01 million TEU; and to the Eastern Mediterranean, 28.9 per cent to 3.35 million TEU.
Meanwhile, imports from Europe to Asia totalled 6.47 million TEU last year, which fell 3.5 per cent from 2022 and have remained on a downward trend for three consecutive years.
By origin, containers from North Europe declined 5.1 per cent to 4.53 million TEU and from the Western Mediterranean, 5.2 per cent to 1.02 million TEU, but those from the Eastern Mediterranean climbed 4.5 per cent to 916,708 TEU.
By destination, imports to China waned 6.6 per cent to 3.2 million TEU and to Northeast Asia, 12.1 per cent to 1.38 million TEU; however, those to Southeast Asia picked up 8.7 per cent to 1.9 million TEU.
Source: shippingazette