Port performance is a faithful barometer of global trade health. If this gear fails, the entire chain slows down. And the most recent UNCTAD data indicates that ports are under increasing pressure from a combination that includes rapid advances in process digitalization, permanent geopolitical changes, and the inherent challenge of maintaining high efficiency standards. A panorama that, of course, is not the same for everyone.
Although port activity remained stable in 2024, with modest growth of 2% in the first half of the year and 4% in the second half for dry bulk, the real story is in the geographical distribution of port calls. Asia has cemented its dominance with 63% of container ship port calls in the second half of 2024, a significant jump from 59% in 2018.
Europe falls back
Meanwhile, Europe lost ground, with its share falling from 21% to 17% in the same period. This trade reconfiguration was also seen in the tanker segment, where Europe’s share decreased from 24% to 18%, while Asia’s share rose from 54% to 61%.
The report highlights that connectivity in Africa recorded a significant improvement, with an average increase of 10% between June 2024 and June 2025. Cameroon, for example, experienced a notable 54% rise in its connectivity index, driven by larger vessels calling at its ports.
Congestion
As with everything, there is a downside. In the case of port performance, the downside is congestion. Despite efforts, bottlenecks increased and the average waiting times for container ships in the anchorage area rose from 5.2 to 6.4 hours in developed countries in 2024, and from 10.2 to 10.9 hours in developing countries.
On the other hand, cargo handling efficiency was also affected, as the average time to move a container for smaller port calls exceeded 4 minutes and 20 seconds in 2024, while Asian economies remained efficient in this regard.
Digitalization vs cybersecurity
In an attempt to find a lifeline, the industry has been turning increasingly rapidly to digitalization. And the numbers proved it right: countries that implemented systems such as the Maritime Single Window or the Port Community System (PCS) showed superior logistical performance.
India, for example, managed to reduce vessel response time in its main ports by 49% thanks to its PCS. A similar case is Djibouti, where the Single Window reduced clearance time by 4-5 hours and cut terminal response time from 24 to just 1 hour.
Furthermore, UNCTAD found a strong correlation: countries that have implemented these digital tools have higher connectivity indices than those that have not.
But this new digital era does not come without risks. In early 2025, NATO issued an alert about cyber threats targeting port infrastructure. The message is clear: the more ports digitalize, the more vulnerable they become to cyberattacks.
For this reason, cybersecurity has become a central issue, with ports like Los Angeles investing in advanced systems to protect their operations.
The Pending Issue
With all this panorama of technological change and global readjustments, human capital becomes the great pending issue. Although women represent 19% of the workforce in ports, their participation is minimal in operational roles. Only 2% of cargo handling positions are held by women. While their representation in managerial roles rose to 39%, the gap remains enormous.
This is compounded by low investment in training, a key area for adapting to digitalization and the incorporation of new fuels, which represented only 0.04% of revenue in 2024.
