In 2021, Asia accounted for over 64 percent of goods unloaded worldwide. That year, roughly seven billion metric tons were unloaded in Asian seaports. With just over 1.7 billion metric tons, Europe accounted for nearly 16 percent of the global volume of goods unloaded. Overall, almost 11 billion metric tons of goods were traded worldwide that year.
Volume of loaded and unloaded cargo in seaborne trade in 2021, by continent
(in million metric tons)
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UNCTAD. (November 29, 2022). Volume of loaded and unloaded cargo in seaborne trade in 2021, by continent (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 06, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1102145/worldwide-seaborne-trade-balance-by-continent/
UNCTAD. "Volume of loaded and unloaded cargo in seaborne trade in 2021, by continent (in million metric tons)." Chart. November 29, 2022. Statista. Accessed June 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1102145/worldwide-seaborne-trade-balance-by-continent/
UNCTAD. (2022). Volume of loaded and unloaded cargo in seaborne trade in 2021, by continent (in million metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1102145/worldwide-seaborne-trade-balance-by-continent/
UNCTAD. "Volume of Loaded and Unloaded Cargo in Seaborne Trade in 2021, by Continent (in Million Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 29 Nov 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1102145/worldwide-seaborne-trade-balance-by-continent/
UNCTAD, Volume of loaded and unloaded cargo in seaborne trade in 2021, by continent (in million metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1102145/worldwide-seaborne-trade-balance-by-continent/ (last visited June 06, 2025)
Volume of loaded and unloaded cargo in seaborne trade in 2021, by continent (in million metric tons) [Graph], UNCTAD, November 29, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1102145/worldwide-seaborne-trade-balance-by-continent/
