Source: Containerization International.

World's Main Intermediate Hubs, 2007

With the growth of long distance containerized trade, intermediate hubs grew in importance in helping connect different maritime systems of circulation. They tend to be located along the main circum equatorial maritime route that goes through Panama, the Strait of Malacca, Suez and Gibraltar and that links the world's major markets. Many also provide a relay function between the north-south and the east-west shipping lanes. The world's most important intermediate hub is Singapore where 92% if its traffic is transshipment, which accounted for more than 25.7 million TEUs in 2007.