Photographs: Yuriko Nakao/Reuters
Global consumer demand dictates the flow of container shipping, so if you want to know where trade is heaviest, follow the container.
So, let's us have a look at the world's busiest ports measured in terms of cargo shipped in standard containers, or TEUs (20-foot equivalent units).
Source: Wikipedia
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Aly Song/Reuters
Shanghai
Country: China
Annual container traffic: 31,740 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 1
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Edgar Su/Reuters
Singapore
Country: Singapore
Annual container traffic: 29,940 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 2
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Bobby Yip/Reuters
Hong Kong
Country: Hong Kong
Annual container traffic: 24,380 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 3
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Bobby Yip/Reuters
Shenzhen
Country: China
Annual container traffic: 22,570 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 4
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Source: Duesride/Wikimedia Commons
Busan
Country: South Korea
Annual container traffic: 16,170 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 5
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Lang Lang/Reuters
Ningbo-Zhoushan
Country: China
Annual container traffic: 14,720 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 6
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Tyrone Siu/Reuters
Guangzhou
Country: China
Annual container traffic: 14,260 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 7
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Nir Elias/Reuters
Qingdao
Country: China
Annual container traffic: 13,020 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 8
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Jumana ElHeloueh/Reuters
Dubai
Country: The United Arab Emirates
Annual container traffic: 13,010 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 9
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Jerry Lampen/Reuters
Rotterdam
Country: The Netherlands
Annual container traffic: 11,880 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 10
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Source: Lotte Department Store/Handout
Tianjin
Country: China
Annual container traffic: 11,590 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 11
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Nicky Loh/Reuters
Kaohsiung
Country: Taiwan
Annual container traffic: 9,640 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 12
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters
Kuala Lumpur
Country: Malaysia
Annual container traffic: 9,600 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 13
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Christian Charisius/Reuters
Hamburg
Country: Germany
Annual container traffic: 9,040 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 14
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Laurent Dubrule/Reuters
Antwerp
Country: Belgium
Annual container traffic: 8,660 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 15
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Fred Prouser/Reuters
Los Angeles
Country: The United States
Annual container traffic: 7,940 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 16
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Edgar Su/Reuters
Tanjung Pelepas
Country: Malaysia
Annual container traffic: 7,500 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 17
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Ben Blanchard/Reuters
Xiamen
Country: China
Annual container traffic: 6,470 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 18
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Stringer/Reuters
Dalian
Country: China
Annual container traffic: 6,400 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 19
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20 busiest container ports in the world
Photographs: Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau/Handout/Reuters
Long Beach
Country: The United States
Annual container traffic: 6,060 TEUs
Global rank in container traffic: 20
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