ports

Jebel Ali Plummets Out of Top 30 Container Ports After Two Decades at Elite Status

Dubai's Jebel Ali has dropped from 10th to 32nd place in global container port rankings, marking its exit from the top 30 for the first time in over 20 years. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz nearly shut down the waterway from March through June. Container volumes at Jebel Ali plummeted more than 90% in the second quarter to 374,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, following a 23% decline in the first quarter. The port handled 3.14 million teu in the first half of 2026, less than half its previous-year pace. Abu Dhabi's Khalifa port also suffered, dropping out of the top 50 after holding 32nd place. Regional instability continues impacting Persian Gulf gateways while Chinese ports maintain momentum. Volumes at China's top-30 ranked facilities reached 161 million teu during the period.