According to data compiled by the Japan Maritime Centre (JMC) and provided by the UK Container Trade Statistics (CTS), Asian container exports to Europe reached 1.59 million TEUs in June, up 8 per cent year on year.

Export growth, driven mainly by growth in Chinese exports, has climbed for 16 consecutive months.

From the perspective of supply, China and Hong Kong accounted for 1.25 million TEUs, an increase of 10.5%; Southeast Asia contributed 196,474 TEUs, up 4.1%; For the rest of Northeast Asia, it fell to 140,450 TEUs, a decline of 5.8%.

In terms of destinations, Northern Europe received 1 million TEUs, an increase of 10.7%; The East Mediterranean was 295,283 TEUs, up 1.4%; There were 292,150 TEUs in the Western Mediterranean, up 6.2%.

The JMC noted that the surge in demand was particularly pronounced just before the European Commission imposed higher import duties on Chinese electric vehicles in July, and they will be closely watching the impact going forward.

On the other hand, container imports from Europe to Asia totalled 537,854 TEUs in June, down slightly by 0.1%, the first year-on-year decline in two months.

By origin, 367,940 TEUs were imported from Northern Europe, down 1.9%; The Western Mediterranean route contributed 89,264 TEUs, an increase of 2.7%; The Eastern Mediterranean added 80,650 TEUs, an increase of 5.5%.

In terms of destination, 261,581 TEUs were exported to China, an increase of 1.7%; In Southeast Asia, there were 152,923 TEUs, down 5%; And other Northeast Asian economies 123,349 TEUs, up 2.4%.

In the first half of the year, Asia's exports to Europe rose 6.7 percent to 8.75 million TEUs, while imports from Europe rose 0.3 percent to 3.19 million TEUs.