Singapore is ranked the top maritime centre in the 2025 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCDI) Report for the 12th consecutive year.
The report released by Baltic Exchange in collaboration with the Xinhua News Agency names Singapore as the world’s leading maritime centre, followed by London and Shanghai.
Singapore achieved a score of 99.50 out of 100, whilst London once again secured second position with a score of 81.02.
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.
Shanghai, with a score of 81.01, retained third place, highlighting its significant role as a major port city in Asia. London and Shanghai have maintained their positions within the Index for the past five years.
Hong Kong (80.77) and Dubai (75.97) 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 2024 to 2025.
Meanwhile, Ningbo Zhoushan and Athens/Piraeus swapped positions this year, with Ningbo Zhoushan moving up to seventh and Athens/Piraeus settling in eighth, while Hamburg remains steady in ninth.
New York/New Jersey rounded out the top 10 owing to its strong cargo handling despite major disruptions and strikes, continued investment in port infrastructure, and its leading role as a global centre for shipping finance and maritime services.
Guangzhou, Qingdao and Tianjin all have improved their rankings, while Ningbo-Zhoushan climbed to seventh, marking its third consecutive year of upward movement. The strong showing reflects China’s sustained investment and growing global influence as a maritime powerhouse.
Los Angeles and Vancouver were new features to this year’s list, taking 19th and 20th position, marking two new North American ports in the global rankings.
Mark Jackson, chief executive of Baltic Exchange, said: “This year’s rankings reaffirm the crucial role of established maritime centres like Singapore, London, and Shanghai, alongside emerging hubs, in providing the infrastructure and expertise needed to keep supply chains efficient and reliable amid persistent geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.”
The ISCDI Report evaluates a total of 43 maritime locations, considering various port metrics such as cargo throughput, crane count, container berth length, and port draught.
It also assesses the presence of professional maritime support businesses, including shipbroking, ship management, ship financing, insurance, and legal services, alongside hull underwriting premiums.
Additionally, the evaluation considers general business environment factors like customs tariffs, the level of electronic government services, and overall logistics performance.
