2023 Essential Revenue and Operating Information for the 50 Largest Global Freight Companies
Up Front

Infrastructure and automation improvements have helped port operators, but there is still more work to be done.

A new No. 1 leads off this year’s Transport Topics Top 50 list of the world’s largest freight companies.

Get a continent-by-continent and country- by-country look at where the Top 50 Global Freight Companies are based.

Rankings
 

Port Data

Rank Port Name City Type of Freight TEUs 2022 TEUs 2021 % Change Freight Tonnage (metric tons)
1 Port of Los Angeles Los Angeles container, break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, automotive, heavy lift, special project cargo, refrigerated, passenger 9,911,159 10,677,610 -7.2% 219,000,000*
2 Port of New York and New Jersey New York container, break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, automotive, heavy lift, special project cargo, refrigerated, passenger 9,493,664 8,985,929 5.7%  
3 Port of Long Beach Long Beach, Calif. container, break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, automotive, heavy lift, special project cargo, refrigerated, passenger 9,133,657 9,384,368 -2.7% 193,354,062
4 Port of Savannah Savannah, Ga. container, break bulk, heavy lift, automobile, refrigerated 5,892,131 5,613,163 5.0% 38,459,904
5 Ports of Colon, Cristobal and Manzanillo Colón, Panama container, liquid bulk, dry bulk, passenger, transshipping 5,058,556 4,915,975 2.9%  
6 Port Houston Houston container, break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk 3,974,901 3,453,226 15.1% 49,950,465
7 Port of Virginia Norfolk, Va. container, break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, automobile 3,703,231 3,522,834 5.1% 59,398,828
8 Port of Vancouver Vancouver, British Columbia container, break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, automobile, special project cargo, passenger 3,557,294 3,678,952 -3.3% 142,469,186
9 Port of Manzanillo Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico container, dry bulk, liquid bulk 3,473,852 3,371,438 3.0% 34,434,272
10 Northwest Seaport Alliance Seattle and Tacoma, Wash. container, break bulk, liquid bulk, dry bulk, automobile, heavy lift, special project cargo, refrigerated, passenger, air cargo 3,384,018 3,736,206 -9.4% 24,551,174
11 Port of Balboa/PSA Panama International Terminal Panama Int'l Terminals, Panama container, transshipping 3,347,861 3,561,432 -6.0%  
12 Port of Charleston Charleston, S.C. container, break bulk, dry bulk, automobile, refrigerated 2,792,313 2,751,442 1.5%  
13 Port of Oakland Oakland, Calif. container 2,337,607 2,448,243 -4.5%  
14 Port of Kingston Kingston, Jamaica container, heavy lift, liquid bulk 2,137,500 1,975,401 8.2%  
15 Port of Montreal Montreal container, break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, passenger 1,722,704 1,728,114 -0.3% 35,997,337
16 Port of Lázaro Cárdenas Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, Mexico container, break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, transshipping 1,700,000 1,686,076 0.8%  
17 Port of Freeport Freeport, Bahamas container, passenger 1,574,200 1,642,780 -4.2%  
18 Port of Caucedo Caucedo, Dominican Republic container, refrigerated, transshipping 1,406,500 1,250,000 12.5%  
19 Port of San Juan San Juan, Puerto Rico container 1,398,600 1,438,738 -2.8%  
20 Port of Jacksonville^ Jacksonville, Fla. container, break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, automobile, heavy lift, refrigerated 1,298,132 1,407,310 -7.8% 9,101,666
21 Port Miami^ Miami container, passenger 1,197,663 1,254,062 -4.5% 9,267,587
22 Moín Container Terminal Límon, Costa Rica container 1,182,854 1,319,372 -10.3%  
23 Port Everglades Broward County, Fla. container, break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, passenger 1,107,546 1,038,179 6.7% 24,129,601
24 Port of Baltimore Baltimore container, break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, automobile, refrigerated, passenger 1,069,421 1,022,683 4.6% 10,307,241
25 Port of Prince Rupert Prince Rupert, British Columbia container, break bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, special project cargo, passenger 1,035,639 1,054,836 -1.8% 24,593,720
NOTE: Data for the ports of Kingston, Freeport, Caucedo and San Juan are via PortEconomics. Data for the Port of Lázaro Cárdenas is via the American Journal of Transportation. All other data is via port authorities.

* Freight tonnage for the Port of Los Angeles is for fiscal year 2021-22, ended June 30, 2022.

^ Data for the Port of Jacksonville and Port Miami is for fiscal year 2021-22, ended Sept. 30, 2022.
Extras

2022 saw an eastern shift in North American ocean freight, while airfreight dipped across the continent.

If your company appears on the list, you have a few ways to announce it. Visit our logo library to get web- and print-ready graphics.

Learn more about Transport Topics’ Top 50 Global Freight Companies publication.

Global Freight News
Business, Logistics, Global Freight

Maersk CEO Soren Skou Leaves, Will Be Replaced by Vincent Clerc

A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S CEO Soren Skou will step down and will be replaced by Vincent Clerc, the current head of the transport giant’s ocean and logistics business.

Christian Wienberg | Bloomberg News
December 12, 2022
Government, Business, Logistics, Global Freight

Consumers Enjoy Tentative Relief as Supply Chains Unclog

The supply backlogs of the past two years — and the delays, shortages and outrageous prices that came with them — have improved dramatically since summer.

Tom Krisher and Paul Wiseman | Associated Press
December 7, 2022
Government, Business, Equipment, Logistics, Global Freight

Savannah Port Terminal to Get $410 Million Upgrade Amid Big Growth

The Port of Savannah plans a $410 million overhaul of one of its sprawling terminals to make room for loading and unloading larger ships while focusing its business almost exclusively on cargo shipped in containers.

Russ Bynum | Associated Press
December 5, 2022
Business, Logistics, Global Freight, Top 50

3PLs Make Debut on Global Freight 50

While the worst of the global supply chain snarls brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic now appear to be in the rearview mirror, it’s still not business as usual for international freight.

Seth Clevenger | Managing Editor, Features and Multimedia
November 30, 2022
Government, Business, Technology, Logistics, Global Freight

Shipping Prices Fall in Inventory Glut, Upping Broker Deals

U.S. trucking is entering a tumultuous period that will likely reshape the $875 billion industry. Shipping rates that spiked during disruptions caused by the pandemic have plummeted as inventory gluts across the U.S. lowered demand.

Thomas Black | Bloomberg News
November 28, 2022
Business, Logistics, Global Freight, TCA

Federal Maritime Commissioners Praise Growth at Port of Mobile

Two members of the Federal Maritime Commission praised the growth, diversity and import-export balance of the Port of Mobile during a visit on Nov. 16.

Lawrence Specker | Alabama Media Group
November 17, 2022
Business, Equipment, Logistics, For-Hire, Global Freight

FedEx Freight Unit Furloughs Workers as Cargo Demand Slows

FedEx Corp.’s freight unit is putting workers on furlough in some U.S. markets, adding to mounting evidence of a cargo slowdown as the company joins other large employers trimming their ranks.

Thomas Black | Bloomberg News
November 14, 2022
Business, Logistics, Global Freight

Supply Chain Woes Accelerate Reshoring, Nearshoring Trend

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic followed by supply chain disruptions around the world has sparked a resurgence of companies bringing sourcing and manufacturing back to the United States or closer to U.S. shores.

Gary Frantz | Special to Transport Topics
November 4, 2022
Business, Logistics, Global Freight, Top 50

Top North American Seaports and Airports Realize Record Volumes

Seaports and airports across North America experienced record-breaking volume in 2021 amid growing consumer demand.

Mike Senatore | Features Coordinator
November 4, 2022
Government, Business, Fuel, Logistics, Global Freight, Top 50

A Clouded Outlook for Global Freight

Describing global supply chains as “volatile” for the last two years is an understatement. Glimmers of hope are emerging, but anxiety grows over whether freight volumes can maintain traction amid high inflation and economic uncertainty.

Katie Pyzyk | Special to Transport Topics
November 4, 2022
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