Singapore retains global leadership for the 13th consecutive year as China’s maritime hubs continue to gain prominence
Shanghai has surpassed London to become the world’s second-leading international shipping centre in the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCDI), reflecting China’s growing influence in the global maritime industry.
The annual index, jointly published by Baltic Exchange and Xinhua News Agency, ranked Singapore as the world’s top shipping centre for the 13th consecutive year with a score of 99.32 out of 100. Shanghai climbed to second place with 84.27, overtaking London, which ranked third with 81.80.
The report, now in its 13th edition, evaluates the competitiveness of 43 international shipping centres based on a comprehensive assessment of port infrastructure, maritime professional services and the overall business environment.
Hong Kong secured fourth place with 80.87, followed by Dubai in fifth with 77.13. Singapore, Shanghai, London, Hong Kong and Dubai have consistently remained among the world’s top five shipping centres for the past nine years.
Among the other leading maritime hubs, Ningbo-Zhoushan advanced to sixth position ahead of Rotterdam, while New York/New Jersey climbed two places to eighth. Athens/Piraeus and Hamburg retained their positions in the global top ten.
According to the report, Shanghai’s rise reflects the strengthening competitiveness of China’s major shipping centres. Other Chinese ports, including Guangzhou, Qingdao and Tianjin, also improved their rankings, underscoring the country’s expanding maritime connectivity, logistics capabilities and service ecosystem.
The ISCDI assesses shipping centres using a broad set of indicators covering port performance, maritime business services and the wider commercial environment. Evaluation parameters include cargo throughput, container berth capacity, crane infrastructure, port draught, shipbroking, ship management, ship finance, marine insurance, legal services, customs efficiency, digital government services and logistics performance.
Commenting on the findings, Mark Jackson, Chief Executive of Baltic Exchange, said the latest index reflects the growing importance of global shipping hubs amid continued volatility in international shipping markets.
Cao Zhanzhong, Head of the Xinhua Index Research Institute of China Economic Information Service, noted that competition among international shipping centres has evolved beyond traditional measures such as port scale and shipping routes to include capabilities in green transition, digital innovation, maritime governance and global resource allocation.
The latest rankings highlight the increasing shift in global maritime competitiveness towards integrated shipping ecosystems that combine world-class port infrastructure with advanced maritime services, sustainability initiatives and digital transformation.
