Shocks from the Red Sea, Panama Canal, and the pandemic have pushed global ports to a tipping point, with newly released data from the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) revealing just how sharply performance slipped between 2020 and 2024.
Efficiency gains have varied significantly by region and income level, reflecting differences in resilience and adaptability.
The CPPI, in its fifth edition and jointly produced by the World Bank Group and S&P Global Market Intelligence, finds that North America and Europe regained stability by 2024, maintaining performance amid ongoing disruptions.
In contrast, South Asia stood out as the only region surpassing pre-pandemic 2020 levels in 2023, though Red Sea disruptions again impacted results last year.
The Middle East and North Africa began strongly but lost ground amid the Red Sea crisis fallout.
Sub-Saharan Africa continues to face structural obstacles including weaker hinterland connections and limited automation, with ports such as Durban and Cape Town experiencing sharply increased waiting times in 2024.
Several ports ranked high in the global 2024 CPPI. Yangshan (China) topped the list with a score of 146.3, followed closely by Fuzhou (China) and Port Said (Egypt). Other strong performers included Tanger-Med (Morocco), Cai Mep (Vietnam), and Hamad Port (Qatar).
Compelling improvement narratives also emerged. Posorja (Ecuador) rose as Latin America’s top-ranked port, while Jawaharlal Nehru Port (India) nearly doubled its CPPI score since 2020, reflecting capacity expansions and streamlined trade processes.
Despite challenges, Cape Town (South Africa) recorded one of the largest year-on-year rebounds, although from a lower baseline.
Contributing to the debate, Nicolas Peltier-Thiberge, Global Director for Transport at the World Bank, commented: “Even amid the multiple shocks, developing country ports are finding ways to adapt, improve, and maximise value. It’s a reminder that with better planning, technology, and cooperation across the logistics chain, ports can make significant strides in their efficiency.”
This year’s CPPI provides a comprehensive benchmark across 403 container ports, incorporating data from over 175,000 vessel calls and 247 million container moves.
It emphasises total vessel time in port as the core measure of efficiency, delivering unique insight into the resilience and reliability of global trade systems.
For the first time, the CPPI offers a multi-year trend analysis that reveals how ports have evolved across five years of disruption.
The report suggests that 24/7 crane operations, optimal crane deployment, and digital platforms that link customs and logistics partners can drive tangible improvement in port competitiveness.
According to Turloch Mooney, Global Head of Port Intelligence & Analytics at S&P Global Market Intelligence: “The CPPI, and its underlying data, serves as a diagnostic tool, enabling stakeholders to pinpoint structural inefficiencies and develop strategies for enhancing port operations.
“As we navigate an increasingly complex global shipping environment, understanding and improving port performance is essential for economic growth and competitiveness.”
