About
Seaborne container transport witnessed continuing growth for decades based on the appealing idea to move standard containers instead of break bulk to improve combined transport. The shift in economic balance to Asia and the southern hemisphere has happened with unpredicted speed and scale. Today, ports of manufacturing powerhouse China handle 1/3 of all seaborne containers. It is expected that increasing demand from new consumer classes in emerging economies as well as a recovery of consumption in developed economies will fuel trade growth.
The market report "Container Terminal Foresight 2020" looks at the past, current and future supply and demand side of the container terminal industry and consists of 3 separate sections plus executive summary:
- Executive Summary of sections 2-4
- Global Container Throughput
- Review of the world and seaborne trade, plus megatrends
- Container freight industry -
market structure and performance of involved companies - Development of the containership fleet
- Projection of global and regional container throughput,
based on a newfound approach
- Container Terminal Projects
- Past and present capacity development and utilization
- Sum up of over 430 container terminal projects
scheduled to deliver 560 TEUm additional capacity - Analysis of the future regional supply/demand situation
- Container Handling Equipment
- Review & outlook for each market segment -
from STS cranes down to terminal tractors
- Review & outlook for each market segment -
Throughput
Global container throughput is projected to increase from 650 TEUm in 2013 to 985 TEUm in 2020, achieving a 6.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The forecast is based on a projection of international imports & exports (IMEX) of manufactures.
SCROLL OVER THE INFOGRAPHIC
PAST During the past two decades global value chains have been established and the trade of manufactures accelerated, resulting in 9% average annual growth of container throughput +9.0% CAGR 1993–2013
PRESENT Container throughput in the last two years fell short of expectations, especially considering the high growth rates in 2010 & 2011.
YOY GROWTH in % | 2012 | 2013 |
---|---|---|
Americas | 3.8 | 1.2 |
EUROpe | 2.6 | 1.7 |
MEA | 1.8 | 1.4 |
CHINA | 5.7 | 6.7 |
Far East | 4.2 | 2.0 |
WORLD | 4.1 | 3.3 |
FUTURE The forecast is based on Import and exports (IMEX) of manufactures instead of GDP growth. IMEX has a higher correlation and a higher overlap with container throughput than GDP growth. +6.1% CAGR 2013–2020

Projects
Equipment
Downloads
BROCHURE
(pdf)
FULL CONTENT LIST
(pdf)
ORDERFORM
(pdf)
Articles
Container Handling Equipment
(WCN, 7/2014, pdf)
Development North America
(ITJ, 9/2014, pdf)
Container Terminal Projects
(Port Strategy, 10/2014, pdf)
Contact
Curriculum Vitae The report has been compiled by Mr. Daniel Schäfer, who has a background as a professional market analyst for nearly 15 years within diverse industries. The "Container Terminal Foresight 2020" is his third market report on the issue since the year 2003.
Before he started his own business in 2014, he was employed for many years with an international renewable energy company and a consultancy.
Container Terminal Foresight 2020
Daniel Schäfer
Hauptstraße 46
D-01683 Rothschönberg
Germany
Mobile+49 171 6974549
Webwww.dsresearch.de
Emaildschaefer@dsresearch.de
