China’s grip on global container trade deepens as export routes diversify
- China-linked cargo is spreading across more routes, but the shift is strengthening rather than weakening the country’s central role in global trade
- Despite tariff pressure, exports remain resilient as assembly moves to Southeast Asia while core production stays in China
- South America is becoming an extension of China’s supply chain
- Rising throughput at China’s major ports shows its dominance is deepening
As carriers reroute around geopolitical flashpoints and manufacturers shift assembly to lower‑cost markets, China‑linked cargo is flowing through a wider network of regional hubs. Even so, surging volumes at China’s ports underline that diversification has reinforced its position at the centre of global container trade
