Datastream
The World’s Largest Shipping Hubs
The Briefing
- The world’s 10 largest shipping hubs shipped 250 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) in 2019
- The Asia-Pacific dominates the landscape with 9 out of 10 shipping hubs located in that region
The World’s Largest Shipping Hubs (2005-2019)
As consumers, we often overlook the complexity and sheer size of global trade that is behind the goods and services we consume everyday.
Trade accounts for roughly 60% of global GDP—and emerging markets, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, have trade to thank in part for their economic growth in recent times.
When it comes to the movement of all these goods, shipping hubs are a crucial component of the trade ecosystem. The following data looks at the 10 largest global shipping hubs and their changes in throughput over time.
The 10 Largest Shipping Hubs (2005-2019, Thousands of TEUs)
Rank | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2019 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Singapore: 23,192 | Shanghai: 29,069 | Shanghai: 36,537 | Shanghai: 43,303 |
2 | Hong Kong: 22,602 | Singapore: 28,431 | Singapore: 30,922 | Singapore: 37,196 |
3 | Shanghai: 18,084 | Hong Kong: 23,699 | Shenzhen: 24,205 | Ningbo-Zhoushan: 27,535 |
4 | Shenzhen: 16,197 | Shenzhen: 22,510 | Ningbo-Zhoushan: 20,627 | Shenzhen: 25,769 |
5 | Busan: 11,843 | Busan: 14,194 | Hong Kong: 20,073 | Guangzhou: 23,223 |
6 | Kaohsiung: 9,471 | Ningbo-Zhoushan: 13,147 | Busan: 19,469 | Busan: 21,992 |
7 | Rotterdam: 9,288 | Guangzhou: 12,546 | Guangzhou: 17,625 | Qingdao: 21,012 |
8 | Hamburg: 8,088 | Qingdao: 12,012 | Qingdao: 17,436 | Hong Kong: 18,303 |
9 | Dubai: 7,619 | Dubai: 11,600 | Dubai: 15,592 | Tianjin: 17,301 |
10 | Los Angeles: 7,485 | Rotterdam: 11,148 | Tianjin: 14,111 | Rotterdam: 14,811 |
One of the biggest changes in recent years is the addition of the Yangshan Port in Shanghai. This massive port has already undergone four expansion phases since it opened in 2005.
Also noteworthy is Hong Kong’s falling position in this ranking. Only a decade ago, Hong Kong was the third-busiest port in the world. Today, facing fierce competition from nearby port facilities, Hong Kong sits in eighth place.
The Global Trade Machine
Trade and the transportation of goods and services are a fundamental component of the $88 trillion global economy. The value of all exports in 2019 was $24.9 trillion.
The Chinese economy continues to show immense strength, and the country is now the top trading partner of 128 countries around the world. China exported $2.6 trillion worth of goods last year, representing 18% of GDP and making them the largest exporter in the world. This economic prowess is also expressed through their enormous shipping hubs – 70% of the TEUs from the top 10 flow through China.
The aggregate volume of goods and services that move between the worlds largest shipping hubs has risen in relation to global trade figures over time, from 212 million TEUs in 2014 to 250 million in 2019.
Where does this data come from?
Source: Marine Department of Hong Kong
Notes: Latest data is as of 2019
Datastream
Ranked: The Top Online Music Services in the U.S. by Monthly Users
This graphic shows the percentage of Americans that are monthly music listeners for each service. Which online music service is most popular?

The Briefing
- Two-thirds of music listeners in the U.S. used YouTube at least once per month
- 64% of music listeners use multiple music services per month
The Top Online Music Services in the U.S.
The music streaming industry is characterized by fierce competition, with many companies vying for market share.
Companies are competing on multiple fronts, from price and features to advertising and exclusive content, making it a challenging market for companies to succeed in.
YouTube (the standard offering and YouTube Music) has the highest amount of users, attracting around two-thirds of music listeners in the U.S. during a given month. This is largely due to the YouTube’s massive reach and extensive catalog of music.
Here’s a full rundown of the top music streaming services in the U.S. by monthly listeners:
Rank | Music Service | % of U.S. Music Listeners Who Use Monthly |
---|---|---|
#1 | YouTube | 61% |
#2T | Spotify | 35% |
#2T | Amazon Music | 35% |
#4 | Pandora | 23% |
#5 | SiriusXM | 21% |
#6 | Apple Music | 19% |
#7 | iHeartRadio | 15% |
#8 | SoundCloud | 10% |
#9 | Audacity | 6% |
#10T | TuneIn | 5% |
#10T | Deezer | 5% |
#10T | Napster | 5% |
#10T | Tidal | 5% |
Two companies are in the running for second place: Spotify and Amazon Music.
Spotify leads in one important metric: number of paid users. Meanwhile, Amazon Music has a large user base since the service is bundled into Prime—however, recent changes mean that without a premium subscription, shuffled playback is the primary option. Time will tell what impact those changes will have on the service’s market share.
Prices for premium music services are beginning to creep upward. Apple Music and Amazon Music raised their prices, and it’s rumored that Spotify will not be far behind. This move would be significant because, in the U.S., Spotify hasn’t raised its prices in over a decade.
Rising prices and more aggressive promotion of premium subscriptions could be a signal that music streaming services are transitioning from a focus on capturing market share to monetizing existing users.
Where does this data come from?
Source: Activate Technology and Media Outlook 2023 by Activate Consulting
Data note: “Music services” include free and paid services used for listening to music through any format excluding terrestrial radio. “Music listeners” are defined as adults aged 18+ who spend any time listening to music.
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