Singapore crowned world’s No 1 container port: report

[SINGAPORE] The Republic has been crowned the world’s leading container port in the inaugural edition of the Leading Container Ports of the World report by DNV and Menon Economics.

The report’s ranking methodology evaluated the top 160 container ports globally, based on a ranking framework of 35 indicators categorised under five equally weighted pillars. The pillars are: enablers, connectivity and customer value, productivity, sustainability and overall impact.

Singapore ranked first across all five pillars on the strength of its “world-class infrastructure, transparent governance and efficient mainline-mainline and feeder-mainline connectivity”, the report said.

It noted that the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore played a “significant role” in the country’s development as a container port, by spearheading and pioneering investments in alternative-fuel bunkering, establishing green shipping corridors and implementing emissions-reduction measures.

The report highlighted the Tuas Port as “central to Singapore’s strategy”. It noted that the highly automated facility, which began operations in 2022, will handle over 65 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually once it is fully completed by the 2040s, giving it the world’s largest throughput capacity.

“These initiatives have reinforced Singapore’s leadership, ensuring the port remains at the forefront of global maritime innovation,” the report said.

Shanghai, the world’s busiest container port, ranked second overall. The report highlighted its strong infrastructure, which is “supported by a strategic location, deep-water terminals and integration with China’s manufacturing base”.

Major automation investments pushed Shanghai past the 51 million TEU mark in 2024, making it the first port to hit this milestone, the report said.

It noted that Shanghai leads in connectivity and ranked highest on the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index serving more than 700 ports worldwide. The city’s environmental and operational impact comes from its sustainability initiatives such as comprehensive shore power, liquefied natural gas and methanol bunkering, and green shipping corridors with Los Angeles and Hamburg.

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Ningbo-Zhoushan, the fastest-growing global hub and a key node in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, placed third overall. The port handled 39.3 million TEUs in 2024, a 26 per cent increase over the past three years.

The report noted that upgrades such as automated terminals, expanded rail links and streamlined customs facilities, have boosted Ningbo-Zhoushan’s efficiency and connectivity.

“With over 300 routes linking 600 ports worldwide and sustainability initiatives such as smart port systems and low-carbon operations, Ningbo-Zhoushan has cemented its role as a critical hub of international trade,” the report said.

Coming in at fourth place is Busan, which serves as North-east Asia’s logistics powerhouse and a key transhipment hub linking Chinese, Japanese and South Korean markets.

Notably, the ongoing Jinhae New Port project, which has 66 planned berths designed for 30,000 TEU-class vessels, is set to boost the port’s capacity to 39.7 million TEUs by 2045, the report said.

It added that strategic investments in terminal automation and digital solutions have improved efficiency at the Busan port by enabling real-time terminal monitoring and vehicle-booking systems, to significantly reduce truck waiting times. An example is the blockchain-based Chain Portal platform.

Rounding up the top five leading global ports is Rotterdam. As Europe’s largest container port, it features developed infrastructure and offers access to European inland waterways, the report said.

It noted that Rotterdam is a model for sustainable and technologically advanced port operations on the continent, thanks to efforts by the Port of Rotterdam Authority.

“The Port of Rotterdam Authority has demonstrated leadership through sustained investment in alternative fuel infrastructure, onshore power supply and digital twin technology, consistently receiving high scores for its performance as a maritime gateway in Europe,” the report said.