More than four in every 10 container miles moved globally are now empty, according to new data from Danish consultancy Sea-Intelligence, reports Singapore's Splash 247.

Sea-Intelligence calculated that 41 per cent of container transport, measured in TEU-miles, now consists of empty boxes. This marks a sharp rise from 2019, when the figure stood at 31 per cent.

"For every 10 miles a full container is shipped, an empty container must now travel 4.1 miles," Sea-Intelligence said in its latest weekly report. The consultancy noted a steady five-year increase, with only a brief dip in 2022.

The imbalance is driven by uneven trade flows, according to Acumen Freight Solutions, a freight forwarder based in Karachi. In a recent social media post, the company said some regions export far more than they import, while others are heavily import-dependent.

Acumen said this leads to container surpluses in ports receiving more imports than exports, such as those in North America and Europe, while ports in Asia often face shortages due to high outbound volumes.