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Singapore retained its position as the world’s leading maritime hub for the 13th consecutive year in the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index
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The index evaluates 43 international shipping centers using a comprehensive framework that covers port performance, professional maritime services, and the wider business environment
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Cao Zhanzhong, Xinhua Index Research Institute of China Economic Information Service head, said their research over the years shows “that competition among international shipping centers has evolved beyond port scale and route networks to encompass broader capabilities in green transition, digital innovation, maritime governance and global resource allocation”
Singapore retained its position as the world’s leading maritime hub for the 13th consecutive year in the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index, which evaluates 43 international shipping centers using a comprehensive framework.
“We are honoured that Singapore has once again been recognised as the world’s leading maritime centre. This reflects the strong commitment and collective efforts of our industry partners and the wider maritime community,” Ang Wee Keong, chief executive of the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore, said in a statement.
“As the industry continues to evolve, we will continue working closely with our partners to strengthen Maritime Singapore’s competitiveness and create value for the global maritime community,” he said.
MPA, which is marking its 30th anniversary this year, said the Port of Singapore in 2025 handled a record 44.66 million twenty-foot equivalent units in container throughput and 3.22 billion gross tonnage in vessel arrivals. The Port of Singapore also remained the world’s largest bunkering port, supplying a record 56.77 million tonnes of marine fuel, including growing volumes of alternative marine fuels.
READ: Singapore port sets new record with over 40M TEUs in 2024
Singapore is connected to more than 600 ports worldwide and home to over 200 international shipping groups.
The Xinhua-Baltic ISCD Index, jointly published by the Baltic Exchange and China’s Xinhua News Agency, is an internationally recognized benchmark of leading maritime centers.
“This year’s Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index Report is a reflection of the growth and importance of our global shipping hubs amid a continuing period of volatility in shipping markets,” Mark Jackson, chief executive of Baltic Exchange, said in a news release.
The evaluation framework covers port performance, professional maritime services and the wider business environment. The indicators include cargo throughput, crane numbers, container berth length and port draught, alongside shipbroking, ship management, ship finance, insurance and legal services. It also considers customs efficiency, digital government services and logistics performance.
The head of Xinhua Index Research Institute of China Economic Information Service, Cao Zhanzhong, said their research over the years shows “that competition among international shipping centers has evolved beyond port scale and route networks to encompass broader capabilities in green transition, digital innovation, maritime governance and global resource allocation.”
He added, “As the global trading system undergoes profound transformation and a new wave of technological revolution gathers pace, the international shipping industry is entering a new phase of development, bringing fresh opportunities while also facing increasingly complex challenges.”
READ: Singapore ranks as top container port in new global rating
