According to data from the Port Authority and analysis presented in the Container Market Outlook 2026 report, container imports continue to grow, while exports remain weak, exacerbating the imbalance in the shipping system. Despite growing geopolitical and logistical challenges, Rotterdam maintains its status as Europe’s largest container hub. As Frank van der Laan, Senior Advisor for Business Analytics at the Port Authority, noted, these changes are already impacting cargo volumes, the structure of trade flows, and the functioning of the port system.
In 2025, container import volumes to Rotterdam increased by an average of 3.9%. The main driver was the growth in shipments of loaded containers from Asia (9.3%), as well as a significant increase in imports from North America (16%). Meanwhile, exports are showing the opposite trend. Shipments to Asian countries decreased again, by 4%. Compared to the peak year of 2018, exports to Asia have fallen by 20%, while shipments to China have fallen by more than 40%.
The gap between imports and exports continues to widen, creating a structural imbalance in the container market. Between 2020 and 2025, the gap increased by 1.47 million TEU, leading to an increase in the number of empty containers in the system. According to Frank van der Laan, this is not a temporary phenomenon, but the result of long-term changes in economic relations between Europe and Asia. China has strengthened its position as a high-tech manufacturing hub and is increasingly competing with European industry, while rising energy prices and tightening regulations have increased production costs in Europe. The situation is also affected by weak domestic demand in China and a focus on exports amid the partial loss of the US market.
