Thousands of containers carrying consumer goods and raw materials are transported by ships all across the world everyday.
Let's take a look at some of the largest ports handling this massive task.
NOTE: TEU, or 20-foot equivalent unit, describes the capacity of container ships and container terminals.
Source: smithsonianmag.com
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Shanghai
Country: China
Total volume: 31.74 million TEUs
Overall rank: 1
Shanghai Port, which began operations in 1842, is also the world's busiest container port, handling nearly 32 million TEUs in 2012.
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Singapore
Country: Singapore
Total volume: 29.94 million TEUs
Overall rank: 2
Singapore Port, which was constructed in 1819, is the second-busiest port in the world.
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Hong Kong
Country: Hong Kong
Total volume: 24.38 million TEUs
Overall rank: 3
Hong Kong Port, which currently has nine container terminals, is one of the busiest ports in the world.
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Shenzhen
Country: China
Total volume: 22.57 million TEUs
Overall rank: 4
Shenzhen Port, which is home to 39 shipping companies, is one of the important ports in China.
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Busan
Country: South Korea
Total volume: 6.16 million TEUs
Overall rank: 5
Busan Port, which started operations in 1876, is the largest port in South Korea.
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Ningbo
Country: China
Total volume: 14.72 million TEUs
Overall rank: 6
Ningbo Port, which traces its roots to 738, carries out trade with 560 ports from more than 90 countries and regions in the world.
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Guangzhou
Country: China
Total volume: 14.26 million TEUs
Overall rank: 7
Guangzhou Port, which used to serve as a trading port as the 'Silk Road on the Sea', is currently the largest comprehensive port in South China.
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Qingdao
Country: China
Total volume: 13.02 million TEUs
Overall rank: 8
Qingdao Port, which is located on the Yellow Sea, is one of the busiest ports in the world.
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Dubai
Country: United Arab Emirates
Total volume: 12.62 million TEUs
Overall rank: 9
Dubai Port is also one of the busiest ports in the world.
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Rotterdam
Country: The Netherlands
Total volume: 11.88 million TEUs
Overall rank: 10
Rotterdam Port, which has been operating since 14th century, is the largest port in Europe.
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Tianjin
Country: China
Total volume: 11.59 million TEUs
Overall rank: 11
Tianjin Port, which has been operating since 1860, is the largest port in northern China.
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Kaohsiung
Country: Taiwan
Total volume: 9.64 million TEUs
Overall rank: 12
Kaohsiung Port, which has been operating since 1858, is the largest harbor in Taiwan.
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Port Kelang
Country: Malasyia
Total volume: 9.44 million TEUs
Overall rank: 13
Port Kelang is the main gateway by sea into Malaysia.
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Hamburg
Country: Germany
Total volume: 9.01 million TEUs
Overall rank: 14
Hamburg Port, which has been operating since 1189, is called Germany's 'Gateway to the World'.
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Antwerp
Country: Belgium
Total volume: 8.66 million TEUs
Overall rank: 15
Antwerp Port is one of the largest sea ports in Europe.
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Los Angeles
Country: United States
Total volume: 7.94 million TEUs
Overall rank: 16
Los Angeles Port, which has been operating since 1907, occupies 7,500 acres of land and water.
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Tanjung Pelepas
Country: Malasyia
Total volume: 7.30 million TEUs
Overall rank: 17
Tanjung Pelepas Port holds the world record for fastest growing port.
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Xiamen
Country: China
Total volume: 6.45 million TEUs
Overall rank: 18
Xiamen Port is the first mainland port to start direct shipment of cargo to Kaohsiung in Taiwan.
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Dalian
Country: China
Total volume: 6.40 million TEUs
Overall rank: 19
Dalian Port, which has been operating since 1899, serves seaports in north and east Asia and the Pacific Rim.
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Long Beach
Country: United States
Total volume: 6.06 million TEUs
Overall rank: 20
Long Beach Port, which has been operating since 1911, generates more than $100 billion in trade.
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Bremen
Country: Germany
Total volume: 5.92 million TEUs
Overall rank: 21
Bremen Port is located in the second-most populous city in northern Germany.
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Laem Chabang
Country: Thailand
Total volume: 5.73 million TEUs
Overall rank: 22
Laem Chabang Port is the largest port in Thailand.
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Tanjung Priok
Country: Indonesia
Total volume: 5.62 million TEUs
Overall rank: 23
Tanjung Priok Port is the largest seaport in Indonesia.
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New York/New Jersey
Country: United States
Total volume: 5.50 million TEUs
Overall rank: 24
New York/New Jersey Port handled $208 billion in shipping cargo in 2011.
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Lianyungung
Country: China
Total volume: 4.85 million TEUs
Overall rank: 25
Lianyungung Port was opened for foreign trade in the 1680s by the Qing dynasty.
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