Top 10 Global Ports

The export import ports play a significant role in promoting international trade. They link international cities and boost international trade. Countries are eager to boast the busiest port in the world signifying their economic growth , and indicating their presence in the global market.

There are various factors which can be used to assess how ‘busy’ or ‘large’ a port is; this could be a reference to the area covered by the port, the amount of traffic handled or the gross tonnage processed.

This top ten list of global ports has been made in consideration of the role that these ports play in the import and export capabilities of the nations they serve and in internationalimports and exports.

10. Port of Felixstowe, United Kingdom

The Port of Felixstowe is the United Kingdom's busiest container port,dealing with over 40% of Britain's containerised trade. It has had numerous investments over the years. This North Sea port processes more than 3.4 million TEU’s (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) every year and connects the UK to more than 360 other global ports.

9. Port of Hamburg, Germany

Germany’s ‘Gateway to the World’ is the nation’s largest port and the third largest in Europe, behind Rotterdam and Antwerp.

A vital part of Germany's and wider European import/export business, the port has consistently built its position as a major ”water-based– interface for intercontinental trade flows. This applies to cargo transports to/from the Far East, Eastern European countries and the Baltic Sea states.

8. Port Hedland, Western Australia

The naturally deep anchorage of this harbour has led to Port Hedland becoming one of the highest tonnage ports in all of Oceania.

In 2011, the port handled in excess of 199 million tons of cargo, more than any port in the history of Australia. Exports for Port Hedland include iron ore, of which the port is one of the largest handlers in the world.

7. Port of Jebel Ali, United Arabs Emirates

Worlds largest man made harbor , Jebel Port in Dubai is also the biggest port in the middle East.

With links to the Dubai International Airport Cargo Village, this port is the epicentre for international imports and exports in the Middle East.

6. Port of South Louisiana, United States

As you might expect, the largest port in the United States falls along the mammoth expanse of the great Mississippi River. As America's largest tonnage Port district, the Port of South Louisiana is the premier sea gateway for U.S. export and import traffic.

As well as occupying a top spot in the world largest shipping ports and the largest in America, the Port of South Louisiana is also one of the biggest bulk cargo ports in the world. In2013 the Port of South Louisiana accounted for up 70 percent of the nation’s grain exports, including wheat, soy and corn.

5. Port of Hong Kong, China

Like many of the world’s largest and busiest ports, Hong Kong in the South China Sea is a natural harbour and accounts for the cities strong presence in the world market.

4. Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia

Tanjung Pelepas on the mouth of Pulai River is one of the fastest growing ports in the world.

If the expansion of the port continues at its present rate, Tanjung Pelepas could overtake the likes of Singapore in terms of container traffic.

3. Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands

For the larger part of the 20th century, the Netherlands was able to boast the busiest port in the world, in terms of cargo tonnage. That is, until the 41 square mile Port of Rotterdam was overtaken by counterparts in the Far East.

Rotterdam still holds the top position of the busiest port in Europe. And with a draft of 74 feet, the Port of Rotterdam occupies a unique position as one of only two ports in the world that can accommodate the world’s largest cargo ship, the MS Berge Stahl.

2. Port of Singapore, Singapore

The origins of this port date back to the 13th century, when Singapore was a significant location for the exportation of cotton, glassware and ceramics for the international market.

Nowadays, the port handles more than 420 million tons of cargo every year and is ranked first in terms of containerised traffic. It also handles almost a quarter of the world’s shipping containers and connects Singapore to more than 600 global ports.

1.Port of Shanghai, China

The trading Port of Shanghai handles a staggering 32 million containers a year and carries 736 million tonnes of goods to far-flung places around the globe.

Stretching as far as the eye can see, rows upon rows of containers lie stacked up at the Port of Shanghai waiting to be shipped abroad.

It’s this fearsome capacity that has helped China become the world’s largest tradingnation.

At the heart of Chinese commerce, the Port of Shanghai is responsible for a quarter of the country’s foreign trade. Occupying a geographically crucial space at the head of three of China’s rivers –the Yangtze, Huangpu and Qiatang – Shanghai is China’s gateway to the East China Sea and the international market.