Signs of recovery are being recorded in container traffic at the port of Piraeus Port, as the prospect of easing tensions in the Middle East is generating cautious optimism for a gradual return of shipping routes through the Suez Canal.According to data from COSCO Shipping Ports, container throughput at Piraeus Container Terminal Pier II and III increased by 2.8% in May 2026, marking the second consecutive monthly rise since the beginning of the year and the strongest performance in the past 12 months. Specifically, 347,000 TEUs were handled in May 2026, compared with 337,000 TEUs in the same month of 2025.Despite the improved monthly performance, overall results remain lower on a five-month basis.During the January–May 2026 period, container throughput at the two piers amounted to 1.628 million TEUs, down 2.8% compared with 1.674 million TEUs in the corresponding period of the previous year. However, recent improvements and expectations of a gradual normalisation of conditions in the Middle East are supporting estimates that the port of Piraeus could benefit from the return of more vessels to the Suez route, regaining part of the volumes lost due to disruptions in global supply chains.It is noted that the majority of container vessels currently continue to opt for the route around Africa when entering the Mediterranean Sea.Global PerformanceAt the same time, COSCO Shipping Ports recorded a strong increase in global container throughput in May 2026, benefiting from improved activity in both the Chinese market and its overseas terminal network.The company reported a 9.1% increase in total throughput across its 38-port global portfolio in May 2026, reaching 10.7 million TEUs, compared with 9.8 million TEUs in the same month last year.The upward trend was also confirmed in January–May 2026, during which 50.7 million TEUs were handled, up 8.6% from 46.6 million TEUs in the corresponding period of 2025.In China, stronger performance was driven by terminals in the Pearl River Delta and Bohai Rim regions, where throughput rose by 12.9% and 4.4% respectively compared with May 2025.Even stronger growth was recorded at the group’s overseas terminals, where container handling increased by 17.7% year-on-year, underlining the significant contribution of the international portfolio to overall results.By business category, subsidiaries recorded a 2.2% increase, while non-subsidiary terminals posted a 12% rise.The figures highlight the continued resilience of COSCO Shipping Ports’ global operations, despite ongoing challenges in international supply chains and global trade.