The latest global Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) indicates that East and Southeast Asian ports excelled in 2023, securing 13 of the top 20 positions. The CPPI, developed by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, is based on extensive data from over 182,000 vessel calls, 238.2 million moves, and approximately 381 million twenty-foot equivalents (TEUs) for the full calendar year of 2023.
Given that more than 80% of merchandise trade is transported by sea, port resilience and efficiency are critical to global markets and economic development. Regional disruptions have influenced port performance globally.
“While the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath eased further in 2023, container shipping continues to be an unpredictable and volatile sector,” said Martin Humphreys, Lead Transport Economist at the World Bank. “Major ports need to invest in resilience, new technology, and green infrastructure to ensure the stability of global markets and the sustainability of the shipping industry.”
The CPPI for 2023 includes 57 new ports such as Muuga Harbour in Estonia and Port of Al Duqm in Oman. Notably, Visakhapatnam Port in India entered the top 20 rankings. Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania improved ship arrival times by 57%, despite its relatively low ranking.
“There is a greater awareness and focus on resilience and efficiency of maritime gateways,” said Turloch Mooney, Head of Port Intelligence & Analytics at S&P Global Market Intelligence. “The highly interconnected nature of container shipping means poor performance at one port can disrupt entire schedules beyond its hinterland.”
China’s Yangshan Port maintained its top position for a second consecutive year while Oman’s Port of Salalah held onto second place. The port of Cartagena in Colombia rose to third place; Tanger-Mediterranean in Morocco remained fourth; Tanjung Pelepas Port in Malaysia completed the top five.
The CPPI ranks 405 global container ports by efficiency with a focus on port stay duration for container vessels. It aims to identify areas for improvement benefiting multiple stakeholders including ports, shipping lines, national governments, and consumers.