The trade flow of container transportation between 100 ports with biggest container throughput around the world has been scientifically estimated in this study.On the basis of the estimation，the spatial-temporal evolution pattern of global trade of container transportation between the ports has been comprehensively observed，and the hierarchal structure of global container transportation network has been revealed in the perspective of their trade connection.The results showed：（1）During the study period，the spatial pattern of global trade flow of container transportation has been formed，whose mainstay is the container trade connection between North America，West Europe and East Asia-Southeast Asia，and the support is the container trade connection within the above 3 regions.（2）The complexity and completeness of trade flow network of global container transportation between ports has been remarkably increased.The trade flow of their container transportation has experienced a spatial diminishing process from close to distant during the study period.The geographical proximity is still an important factor of promoting trade flow of container transportation between ports.（3）The container transportation trade connection between most ports are relatively loose，only few of them are tightly connected.This hierarchal differentiation in the distribution pattern global container transportation trade is resulted from the regional differentiation and combination of global marine trade network.（4）The prior connection of container transportation trade between the ports presents a distinct regional characteristic.The adjacency or proximity ports and the powerful economic attraction from the core of container transportation trade group have been the most prominent factors that form the prior connection of global container transportation trade between ports.