Asia shipped 1.88 million TEUs to Europe in January, up 6 per cent year on year, marking a third consecutive month of growth, according to the Japan Maritime Center using UK Container Trades Statistics data.
The figure sets a new monthly record for trade volumes on the route. By origin, China and Hong Kong accounted for 1.53 million TEUs, up 5.8 per cent; other parts of Northeast Asia contributed 128,577 TEUs, up 3.4 per cent; and Southeast Asia supplied 221,753 TEUs, an 8.8 per cent increase.
In terms of destinations, North Europe received 1.14 million TEUs, up 3.6 per cent; the Western Mediterranean 362,180 TEUs, up 10.2 per cent; and the Eastern Mediterranean 370,389 TEUs, up 9.8 per cent.
In contrast, imports from Europe to Asia remained subdued in January, falling 7.8 per cent YoY to 421,619 TEUs, marking the second consecutive month of contraction.
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By origin, North Europe accounted for 279,426 TEUs, down 8.8 per cent; the Western Mediterranean 64,179 TEUs, down 15.4 per cent; and the Eastern Mediterranean 78,014 TEUs, up 3.9 per cent.
By destination, China received 207,893 TEUs, down 3.9 per cent; other parts of Northeast Asia 87,653 TEUs, down 8.9 per cent; and Southeast Asia 126,071 TEUs, down 13 per cent.
The data underscores the persistent imbalance on the Asia-Europe trade lane, with strong outbound flows from Asia contrasting with weaker return cargoes from European ports.
