ShippingTelegraph: China leads global container port efficiency rankings

Published by ShippingTelegraph

East Asian ports continue to perform strongly in the rankings of the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2025, jointly issued by the World Bank Group and S&P Global Market Intelligence. The annual report, now in its sixth edition, also highlights promising improvements in ports across Africa, Latin America and South Asia.

The report, “World Bank. 2026. The Container Port Performance Index 2025: A Comparable Assessment of Performance based on Vessel Time in Port,” © World Bank, sheds light on emerging trends in port efficiency. Covering over 400 ports worldwide from 2020 to 2025, the index assesses vessel time in port, a key indicator of operational efficiency and supply chain reliability.

At a global level, Chinese ports dominated the latest Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), with Fuzhou (China) as the top performer in 2025 followed by Dalian (China), Salalah (Oman), Mawan (China), and Chiwan (China).

The leading improvers between 2020 and 2025 were South Africa’s Port Elizabeth, Khalifa Bin Salman Port (Bahrain), Posorja (Ecuador), Göteborg (Sweden), and Muhammad Bin Qasim (Pakistan).

The top improvers in 2025 compared to 2024 are Durban (South Africa), Freeport (Bahamas, The), Coega (Ngqura) Port (South Africa), Cristobal (Panama), and Manzanillo (Mexico).

According to the report, improvement is achievable through different pathways, including capacity expansion and operational improvements.

The Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2025 shows that global port efficiency remains under pressure from geopolitical instability, shipping network disruption, extreme weather events and persistent market volatility.

One of the key findings of this year’s report is that longer vessel turnaround times, often driven by rerouting and congestion, both reflect and exacerbate supply chain fragility. Conversely, ports that improve their operational resilience can help dampen disruptions and support more fluid global trade.

“Understanding this two-way relationship is essential,” said Bertrand De la Borde, global director for transport and logistics at the World Bank Group. “Ports are not just passively exposed to external shocks; they also dynamically shape how those shocks are transmitted. They can either amplify disruptions or help contain them. Investing in port efficiency and digital management is not only beneficial to shipping lines – it is a core requirement to build more resilient supply chains and reduce the impact of volatility on economies and communities.”

Looking ahead, the report advocates targeted investments in operational efficiency, real-time data sharing, and flexible management practices. These measures can reduce vessel time in port, limit the propagation of delays, and foster a more fluid and resilient global trade environment.

“The findings reinforce that ports are critical nodes in the global supply chain,” said Turloch Mooney, head of port intelligence & analytics at S&P Global Market Intelligence. “By focusing on both improving port efficiency and understanding their active role in supply chain dynamics, stakeholders can better prepare for future shocks and support sustainable trade growth.”

The 2025 edition features an expanded multi-year trend analysis, providing stakeholders with deeper insights into how ports are evolving and responding to external pressures.