Over the past decade, DNV and Menon Economics, which have consistently published the Leading Maritime Cities of the World index, have now turned their attention to the container port sector, launching a new indicator system that competes with the port index jointly compiled by the World Bank and S&P Global.
The industry’s first comprehensive global container port ranking, the “Leading Container Ports of the World” report, jointly released by the two institutions, provides a comprehensive assessment of the advanced practices of 160 ports through 35 indicators across five dimensions (Basic Conditions, Connectivity & Customer Value, Operational Efficiency, Sustainability, and Comprehensive Influence). The evaluation indicators include both objective data such as throughput, berth efficiency, carbon emissions per TEU, and alternative fuel availability, as well as professional assessments from core stakeholders in the shipping industry. This newly released “Leading Container Ports of the World” report effectively complements research reports like “Leading Maritime Cities of the World,” offering a professional perspective for evaluating container port operational performance.
In this report, the Port of Singapore ranks first globally. The Port of Shanghai and the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan rank second and third respectively, while the Port of Rotterdam and the Port of Busan both make it into the global top five. Specifically:
The Port of Singapore ranks first in all five assessment dimensions. This port boasts world-class infrastructure, a transparent governance model, and exceptional connectivity, making it a global industry benchmark. All major shipping companies have a presence here, and its mainline shipping service network is the largest in the world. By advancing automation upgrades, pioneering investments in alternative fuel bunkering systems, building green shipping corridors, and implementing emission reduction measures, the port continues to solidify its leading position in the field of sustainability.
As the world’s busiest container hub, the Port of Shanghai handled 51.5 million TEUs in 2024. Its Liner Shipping Connectivity Index ranks first globally, with an extensive route network coverage. The port deeply integrates intelligent technology with an efficient operational system for ultra-large container vessels. With its comprehensive shore power infrastructure and green corridor development, it ranks second globally in the sustainability dimension.
The Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan is the world’s fastest-growing container port, handling 39.3 million TEUs in 2024, with a cargo volume increase of 26% over the past three years. Its strong growth momentum highlights the port’s strategic position in China’s “Belt and Road” Initiative and its expanding global connectivity network.
The Port of Busan is a logistics hub in Northeast Asia and a core transshipment point connecting the three major markets of China, Japan, and South Korea. Leveraging its strategic location and efficient operations, the port has become an indispensable key node in regional and global supply chains.
As Europe’s largest container port, the Port of Rotterdam maintains a leading position in sustainability and innovation. The port continues to invest heavily in alternative fuel infrastructure, shore power supply systems, and digital twin technology, consistently holding the top position as Europe’s maritime gateway.
In addition to the global overall ranking, this edition of the “Leading Container Ports of the World” report also released regional rankings. The Port of New York and New Jersey, the Port of Hamburg, the Tanger Med Port, the Jebel Ali Port, and the Port of Sydney each rank first in their respective regions.
Meanwhile, the fifth edition of the “Container Port Performance Index” released by the World Bank in September presents a different picture. That report, using a dataset covering 175,000 vessel calls and 247 million container moves, focuses on total vessel time in port to evaluate the performance of 403 container ports worldwide. In that ranking, the Port of Shanghai takes the top spot, while the Port of Singapore does not make it into the top ten.
