At the port of Piraeus, Piers II and III of the Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT) recorded a 3.1% increase in the seven-month period of 2025, while Cosco Shipping Ports posted strong performances globally, with 66.7 million TEUs. At the same time, however, the Shanghai SCFI index shows a continuous decline in spot prices, with the Mediterranean and Europe at the center of the pressures, according to analyst Lars Jensen.
Meanwhile, BIMCO appears more optimistic, forecasting steady demand for the market over the next two years, despite international uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. PCT recorded a positive trend in container handling at Piers II and III of the Piraeus Container Terminal on a seven-month basis, according to data from COSCO Shipping Ports.
Specifically, between January and July 2025, 2.4 million TEUs were handled, compared to 2.3 million TEUs in the same period of 2024, marking a 3.1% increase.
This increase comes during a challenging period for the global shipping market, where demand fluctuations and overcapacity affect cargo flows. Despite the positive performance in the seven-month period, July recorded a 6.5% decline, with 345 thousand TEUs handled by PCT, compared to 369 thousand TEUs in the corresponding month of 2024. The picture highlights the port of Piraeus’ annual dynamism but also the challenges it faces on a monthly level due to the unstable international market.
Cosco Shipping Ports recorded strong performances globally in July 2025, with handling at the 35 ports it manages reaching 10 million TEUs, marking a 3.9% increase compared to the same month last year. Overall, between January and July 2025, handling amounted to 66.7 million TEUs, compared to 63 million TEUs in the same period of 2024, recording a 5.6% increase.
In China, terminals in the Southwest and Bohai Rim regions showed strong momentum, with increases of 7.6% and 4.5% respectively on an annual basis. Particularly strengthened was the activity of overseas terminals, which posted an overall increase of 8.7%. The performance of CSP Zeebrugge stands out, where handling impressively increased by 21.1%.
These figures confirm Cosco Shipping Ports’ strategic position as one of the largest port operators globally, with continuous growth both in China and internationally. The market in correction The global container freight market is on a sharp correction trajectory, with the SCFI (Shanghai Containerized Freight Index) recording significant declines in spot prices to key destinations.
The decline is mainly attributed to the supply-demand imbalance, as the delivery of a large number of new vessels has dramatically increased available capacity, while demand remains weak due to economic slowdown, reduced consumption in Europe and the US, and high interest rates, which restrict trade.
International analyst Lars Jensen noted in an online post that in Northern Europe, freight rates have retreated by 13% compared to the highs six weeks ago, without recording a dramatic drop. In contrast, in the Mediterranean, the decline is more pronounced, reaching 31% within ten weeks, reflecting increased pressures in the region.
International analyst Lars Jensen points out that the rapid correction underscores the fragile supply-demand balance and reinforces the assessment that the market is returning to pre-pandemic and pre-trade war levels, with the Mediterranean and Europe at the forefront of this development.
