The global container-port hierarchy has shifted. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has overtaken Singapore to become the world’s second-busiest container port for the first half of 2026, according to shipping analyst Alphaliner. Between January and June, Ningbo-Zhoushan handled 22.90 million TEUs, an 8.8% year-on-year increase, while Singapore handled 22.74 million TEUs, up 4.7%. The difference was just 158,310 TEUs, making the race for second place remarkably close.
At the top, Shanghai remained firmly in first place, handling 28.74 million TEUs during the same period. Ningbo-Zhoushan’s rise has been supported by continued expansion and stronger international connectivity. Its Jintang port area alone handled 1.5 million TEUs of import and export containers in H1 2026, up 23.4% year on year, while 17 new foreign-trade routes were added during the period.
The ranking is not yet a full-year result, but the shift is significant: for the first time over a complete six-month reporting period, Ningbo-Zhoushan moved ahead of Singapore. With only around 160,000 TEUs separating the two ports, the second-place battle remains open for the rest of the year. For shippers, carriers and logistics teams, the development is another indication of how quickly global container flows and port competitiveness are evolving.