Container traffic from Asia to Europe reached an all-time high in the first half of 2025, as Chinese exporters diverted cargo away from the US market in response to new tariffs, reports Nikkei Asia.
Analysts say the surge reflects a strategic shift by Chinese manufacturers, who are rerouting shipments to Europe, Latin America and Africa to offset declining exports to the US. The Trump administration’s tariff regime has imposed duties of up to 100 per cent on key Chinese goods, prompting exporters to seek alternative markets.
Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said global container demand rose three to five per cent year on year in the second quarter, with Asia-Europe lanes driving the increase. European ports including Hamburg, Rotterdam and Antwerp reported double-digit growth in Chinese-origin traffic.
A weaker yuan and state-backed incentives have helped sustain export volumes despite trade barriers.
UBS analysts estimate the tariffs could reduce China’s GDP growth by 2.5 percentage points over the next year. However, the resilience of Chinese exports-particularly in electric vehicles, solar panels and consumer electronics-suggests a broader global pivot.
“China is gaining market share not by producing for Western brands, but by going global with its own companies,” said Mr Clerc. The shift is also supported by expanded short-sea and rail links between China and Europe.
Whether this redirection is temporary or structural remains uncertain. But for now, Asia-Europe container lanes are busier than ever, and global shipping networks are adapting to the new trade geography.
