Asia's box shipments to Europe reached 1.88 million TEU in January, marking a record high and a 6% year-on-year increase.
Asia shipped 1.88 million TEU to Europe in January, up six per cent year on year, reports London's Port Technology International.
The figure marked a third consecutive month of growth and set a new monthly record. China and Hong Kong accounted for 1.53 million TEU, up 5.8 per cent, while Northeast Asia contributed 128,577 TEU, up 3.4 per cent. Southeast Asia supplied 221,753 TEU, an 8.8 per cent increase.
North Europe received 1.14 million TEU, up 3.6 per cent. The Western Mediterranean took 362,180 TEU, up 10.2 per cent, and the Eastern Mediterranean 370,389 TEU, up 9.8 per cent.
In contrast, imports from Europe to Asia fell 7.8 per cent to 421,619 TEU, marking a second month of contraction. North Europe accounted for 279,426 TEU, down 8.8 per cent, while the Western Mediterranean dropped 15.4 per cent to 64,179 TEU. The Eastern Mediterranean rose 3.9 per cent to 78,014 TEU.
By destination, China received 207,893 TEU, down 3.9 per cent. Northeast Asia took 87,653 TEU, down 8.9 per cent, and Southeast Asia 126,071 TEU, down 13 per cent.
The data highlights the persistent imbalance on the Asia-Europe trade lane, with strong outbound flows from Asia contrasting with weaker return cargoes from European ports.
