Container volumes between China and Vietnam rose 16 per cent in 2025 to 2.77 million TEU, retaining the top spot among intra-Asia trade flows for a second year, reports Greater Amsterdam's BreakBulk News.

The corridor has surged from 1.82 million TEU in 2023 to 2.32 million TEU in 2024, before last year's increase cemented its leadership. Vietnam has shifted from a secondary manufacturing base to a central supply chain hub tied to southern China.

Cargo composition is changing. Raw materials fell 16 per cent between 2023 and 2025, while intermediate goods rose 11 per cent and capital goods 12 per cent. Higher value cargo has made shippers less tolerant of delays, forcing carriers to rethink service reliability.

Nearly 60 carriers operate on the route, but capacity remains concentrated among a few operators. Several carriers exited in 2025, while new entrants joined, highlighting the corridor's commercial appeal despite competition.

The Shanghai to Ho Chi Minh City corridor saw about 1,200 sailings last year, with median transit times around 11 days. Even small improvements in speed are influencing shipper decisions as the trade becomes more critical to regional supply chains.