International container throughput reached an all-time month-to-month excessive in July 2026, as resilient world commerce grappled with operational constraints and disruptions from the Iran battle.
Revised information from carriers present July 2026 lifting totaled 17.3 million twenty foot equal items (TEUs), in accordance with Container Commerce Statistics, setting a brand new month-to-month file roughly 25,000 TEUs above the earlier excessive set in Might 2026. Yr-to-date international volumes by July are up 5.1% versus the identical interval in 2025, whereas July alone was 4.5% increased 12 months over 12 months.
Freight charges climb to two-year highs
The CTS International Worth Index rose to 115 factors in July 2026, up 7 factors month over month and marking a 47% enhance for the reason that begin of the 12 months. In contrast with July 2025, the index is now 37% increased, with its steep upward trajectory starting in February 2026 alongside the onset of the Persian Gulf disaster. The final time the index reached comparable ranges was August 2024, highlighting how market disruption is pushing freight charges increased at the same time as volumes stay sturdy.
By the primary seven months of 2026, all main areas recorded year-to-date import development besides the Indian Sub-Continent & Center East, which fell 4.2%. Sub-Saharan Africa posted the strongest proportion achieve at 14% 12 months thus far, pushed partly by Asia-origin cargo, which added almost 700,000 TEUs versus 2025. Imports from North America to Sub-Saharan Africa additionally rose nearly 15% 12 months thus far, pointing to Africa’s increasing function in international container flows.
Europe’s imports have been up 6.1% 12 months thus far, with Far East cargo contributing roughly 1.5 million extra TEUs in contrast with the prior 12 months. One issue behind the Far East–Europe power could also be rising European demand for Chinese language-manufactured automobiles, with some shipments shifting into containers amid capability and value pressures in conventional car-carrier providers.
Export patterns reinforce Far East centrality
On the export facet, the Indian Sub-Continent & Center East recorded the most important year-to-date decline at 8.5%, whereas Europe’s exports slipped 0.7%. Europe’s weaker export efficiency displays restricted development to most locations, although Sub-Saharan Africa was an exception; exports from Europe to the Indian Sub-Continent & Center East fell by greater than 10% 12 months thus far, widening the hole between Europe’s sturdy imports and softer exports.
Asia posted the strongest export development, up almost 9% 12 months thus far — or nearly 6 million extra TEUs—with features to each vacation spot area and significantly sturdy contributions from Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.
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