Modern ports have become multimodal distribution megahubs which link sea, river, canal, road, rail and air transport routes, vital for international trade and linchpins for the global economy. Since the advent of container shipping in the 1950s, globalisation has led to the vast expansion of ports, and trade flows show the importance of Asia as a major transport region. The continent now dominates the scene, handling nearly two thirds of global annual container port volumes, and is home to fifteen of the twenty largest ports, eight of which are located in China
