Port of Singapore vs Shanghai: The battle for Asia’s top maritime hub

As of mid-2025, the title of Asia’s top maritime hub is no longer a formality. While Shanghai continues to lead in container throughput, Singapore is gaining ground fast — not by replicating volume, but by redefining what it means to be a global logistics orchestrator.

In this new phase of port competition, the real battleground isn’t just cranes and containers. It’s resilience, neutrality, automation — and strategic relevance in a shifting global supply chain.

 Container Volume: Still a Two-Horse Race

In raw throughput, Shanghai remains at the summit. The Chinese megaport handled an estimated 51.5 million TEUs in 2024, a modest but steady 3.9% year-on-year growth. It continues to serve as the primary export outlet for China’s vast manufacturing base and a key node in Belt and Road rail-maritime integration.