Container ports play a central role in global supply chains by handling merchandise and semi-finished products. The Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) measures the time container ships spend in port, serving as a reference for stakeholders and supporting sustainable port development.
The CPPI aims to offer an objective assessment of container port performance, identify trends in maritime trade efficiency, and point out areas where vessel time in port can be improved. Since 2021, the World Bank has partnered with S&P Global Market Intelligence to publish this index annually.
The fifth edition of the CPPI, developed jointly by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, provides a comparative global assessment based on data from 2024 and reviews trends from 2020 to 2024. It uses two complementary approaches—administrative and statistical—to generate normalized scores focused on vessel time in port.
According to the report, “A timely turnaround of container ships is crucial to keep logistics costs low and supply chains efficient, ensuring that ports remain resilient catalysts for development. Time-efficient container ports enable ships to achieve fuel and emissions savings, making the index a key contributor to shipping decarbonization efforts.”
Over five years, CPPI results have reflected wider stresses and recoveries within global supply chains. Several indices—including the Global Supply Chain Pressure Index (GSCPI), Global Supply Chain Stress Index (GSCSI), Port Congestion Index (PCI), and Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI)—have shown patterns that align with changes observed in CPPI scores. The report notes that these year-on-year changes are influenced by factors outside individual terminals’ control.
In 2024, some recovery seen earlier was partially reversed due to renewed stress in maritime supply chains caused by geopolitical events such as the Red Sea crisis and climate-related disruptions at the Panama Canal. These issues led shipping routes to shift via the Cape of Good Hope or reduce transits through Panama, resulting in schedule unreliability and increased congestion at ports. While CPPI scores declined modestly compared with more dramatic drops during COVID-19 disruptions, these recent challenges were primarily geopolitical or climatic rather than demand-driven.
Regional analysis showed significant variation:
- North America and Europe experienced severe impacts during COVID-19; North American ports had the lowest global CPPI scores in 2022 but stabilized by 2024.
- South Asia demonstrated strong recovery capacity; it was unique among regions for having higher average CPPI scores in 2023 than in 2020 before being affected again by Red Sea disruptions.
- Middle East and North Africa initially led rankings but saw notable declines after repercussions from regional crises.
- Sub-Saharan Africa continues facing persistent obstacles like limited automation and weak hinterland connectivity; additional congestion arose from rerouted vessels due to Red Sea events.
“The aim of the CPPI is to provide an objective measure of container port performance, identify global or local trends in maritime container trade efficiency, and highlight where vessel time in port could be improved,” according to information provided about the index’s purpose.
By tracking operational efficiency over time using consistent methodology, the CPPI helps highlight emerging patterns affecting maritime logistics worldwide.