Shanghai port handled more than 46 million TEU in the first 10 months of 2025, up 6.5 per cent year on year, even as China's overall goods trade grew only 3.6 per cent, reported Singapore's Splash 247.

The figures underline Shanghai's role as the world's largest container hub. Last year it became the first port to surpass 50 million TEU, with officials stressing that rising transshipment and ship-to-ship moves confirm a structural role in global trade.

China's economy is slowing, with imports and exports reaching CNY37.3 trillion (US$5.2 trillion) in the first 10 months. Growth with Belt and Road partners and ASEAN is outpacing the average, while private manufacturers are expanding exports in electric vehicles, batteries and solar products.

Analysts said frontloading ahead of new US tariffs boosted spring volumes, but Shanghai's sustained growth points to deeper structural strength. UNCTAD ranks China at the top of global connectivity, with the Yangshan deepwater complex linking 350 services and 700 ports worldwide.

A European automotive supplier found more than 70 per cent of its deepsea containers still flowed through Chinese hubs despite shifting assembly to Southeast Asia. The review showed diversification on land but continued reliance at sea.

Experts warn that cargo owners face rising exposure as Chinese operators expand stakes in terminals abroad. They urge shippers to measure port dependence as seriously as supplier concentration, and to design routing portfolios that include non-Chinese hubs.

Shanghai's record throughput confirms its central role in global trade, but also highlights fragility. Engagement in green corridors, digital platforms and regulatory frameworks will be key for cargo owners seeking influence over the networks they depend on.