A record 45 bulk carriers entered the Middle East Gulf in October 2026, marking a 36 percent month-on-month increase. According to an analysis by Lloyd's List, Chinese-headquartered shipping companies accounted for 29 percent of non-Iranian-linked dry bulker transits through the region.
China dominated the world's busiest container ports in 2025, taking six of the top eight positions globally, according to data from Lloyd's List compiled by Visual Capitalist and reported by WION. Shanghai ranked first for the 16th consecutive year, handling 55.1 million TEUs. Dubai in the UAE placed ninth globally with 15.55 million TEUs, making it the only top-10 port outside East and Southeast Asia.
Non-Iranian Middle East Gulf crude oil flows to China climbed toward pre-disruption levels as logistics adapted to shifting market conditions. According to Vortexa data, ship-to-ship transfers accounted for more than half of all Middle East Gulf crude exports delivered to China in September. Chinese energy importers have increasingly turned to Gulf Cooperation Council suppliers to replace squeezed volumes.
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