On July 11, the launch ceremony for the 2025 China Maritime Day Shanghai-themed event was held, during which the “Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index Report (2025)” was released. The report revealed that Shanghai has ranked third among international shipping centers for six consecutive years.
The Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index is jointly compiled by Xinhua News Agency’s China Economic Information Service and the Baltic Exchange. Since its inaugural release in 2014, it has become one of the most authoritative and influential evaluation systems in the global shipping industry. The index provides a comprehensive assessment of 43 shipping hub cities worldwide, covering three major dimensions—port conditions, shipping services, and overall environment—along with 16 secondary indicators. It serves as a reference for policymakers, businesses, researchers, and other stakeholders across the industry chain.
In 2024, the Port of Shanghai became the world’s first port to exceed 50 million TEUs in container throughput, maintaining its position as the busiest container port globally for 15 consecutive years. This achievement underscores its status as a world-class shipping hub. The index results show that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the score gap between Shanghai and the two “global leaders,” Singapore and London, has generally narrowed. Specifically, the difference between Shanghai and London decreased from 0.38 points in 2021 to just 0.01 points in 2025.
The shipping industry is not only a critical pillar of international trade but also a major contributor to carbon emissions. Amid the global trend toward green and low-carbon transformation, major shipping hubs worldwide are seizing the opportunity to “overtake on a new track.” For example, the report notes that multiple regions have proposed plans to establish global hubs for green marine fuel bunkering.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another decisive factor shaping the global shipping center landscape. The recently launched second phase of the Shanghai Port Luojing Container Terminal renovation project aims to set a “new global benchmark for smart terminals” by leveraging advanced technologies such as AI and big data to achieve fully intelligent terminal operations. The Shanghai International Port Group has introduced the “MaaS AI Assistant,” which can analyze real-time data on vessel schedules, berthing, cargo, loading/unloading, and customs clearance, providing robust support for coordinated operations across all port activities and significantly enhancing the port’s comprehensive service capabilities.
