The container port as a distribution center plays an important role in international trade. A port's container throughput is an indicator showing a country's economic condition. As an engine, the port can drive a city into a regional economic center like Hong Kong and Shanghai. In a report released from the Chinese Academy of Sciences released in 2013, China has seven container ports ranked at the top 10 global shipping centers based on their container throughput.

Here is a list of 10 important and vital global ports.

No 10 Tianjin Port

Picture taken on Dec 9, 2012, shows a view of Tianjin Port in north China. [Photo/IC]