Singapore is ranked the top maritime centre in the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCDI) Report for the eleventh consecutive year.
The report, published jointly by the Xinhua News Agency and the Baltic Exchange, names Singapore as the world’s leading maritime centre, followed by London and Shanghai.
Singapore achieved a score of 96.23 out of 100, whilst London once again secured second position with a score of 82.50.
Singapore’s position has been maintained as a result of its strategic location, robust international outlook, and a well-established ecosystem of professional maritime services.
London and Shanghai have retained their positions of second and third place, respectively, within the Index for the past five years.
Hong Kong (79.07) and Dubai (75.64) rounded out the top five, emphasising the strength and importance of these key global shipping hubs.
Rotterdam solidified its position as a European leader by maintaining its strong sixth place from 2023 into 2024.
Meanwhile both Athens/Piraeus and Ningbo Zhoushan have each climbed one place in the rankings this year, to seventh and eighth, respectively. As a result, Hamburg has dropped two spots to ninth but still maintains its decade-long position in the top 10.
As in 2023, New York/New Jersey rounded out the top 10 owing to a substantial increase in container volumes, as well as improvements in port infrastructure.
Other notable rankings include Houston at 11th (68.08), Tokyo at 12th (66.60), and Guangzhou at 13th (65.36). These cities continue to demonstrate robust maritime capabilities and significant contributions to global shipping.
Tianjin was the only new feature to this year’s list, taking 19th position, marking yet another Asian port in the global rankings.
Mark Jackson, chief executive of the Baltic Exchange, said: “The international shipping industry in 2023 demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability, reinforcing its indispensable role as the cornerstone of global trade.
“Despite facing significant economic slowdowns, geopolitical tensions, and environmental challenges, the sector-maintained stability and continued to facilitate the movement of essential goods around the world.
“This year’s rankings highlight the strength of global ports, with Singapore, London, and Shanghai continuing to lead the way, providing world-class services and infrastructure that underpin the industry’s success.”
