Global box volumes hold firm despite North American slump
- Asia remains the primary engine of growth, with exports rising across most regions and intra-Asia volumes up 8.5% year on year
- North American trades continue to drag, with imports down 8.1% annually and transatlantic volumes falling sharply amid tariff uncertainty
- Rate indices stagnate across key lanes, signalling persistent overcapacity
Global container volumes opened 2026 with solid year-on-year growth driven by Asia, even as North American weakness, softening rate indices and escalating Middle East disruption cast an early shadow over the sector’s fragile momentum