Source: UNCTAD.
The introduction of ever-larger container vessels has resulted in an overall upscaling across the main east-west trade routes, with large vessels cascading to north-south routes. At the same time, it has resulted in a variance of scale in world port operations. Based on vessel size, three distinctive groups of container ports exist. Larger vessels (18,000-24,000 TEU) call at selected major hubs offering transshipment services. The second group of world ports accommodates vessels up to the scale of the New Panamax standard (12,500 TEU), and a third one hosts vessels around the Panamax size (4.500 TEU).