July 10, 2026 - The Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index Report 2026 was officially launched in Shanghai on July 10. According to the latest ranking, Singapore keeps the first position, while Shanghai jumps to second place, overtaking London, marking a historic breakthrough.
This index is one of the most authoritative evaluation systems for global shipping hubs, assessing ports from three dimensions: port infrastructure, high-end maritime professional services and comprehensive business environment. In 2025, Shanghai Port's container throughput exceeded 55.06 million TEUs, ranking first worldwide for 16 consecutive years. Continuous investment in terminal upgrading, multimodal transport infrastructure and digital logistics platforms greatly strengthens its resource allocation capacity for global sea freight, air cargo and rail-sea intermodal cargo.
Apart from Shanghai, multiple Chinese shipping hubs entered the global top 20 list, including Hong Kong, Ningbo Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Tianjin and Shenzhen. The concentrated development of China's coastal port cluster forms a complete maritime logistics network covering Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, offering diversified shipping options for foreign trade manufacturers and cross-border sellers.
Industry analysts stated that the promotion of Shanghai's international shipping status will bring tangible advantages to Chinese exporters. More regular direct shipping routes, optimized transit schedules and upgraded customs clearance efficiency help shorten overall transit time and stabilize ocean freight costs. Forwarders remind enterprises to make full use of port resource advantages ahead of the Q3 and Q4 peak shipping season, arrange shipment plans reasonably and lock cabin space in advance.
Shipping institutions also mentioned that Shanghai will further accelerate green port construction and develop high-value shipping services such as maritime finance, shipping insurance and legal services in the next stage. The continuous improvement of comprehensive soft power will attract more international cargo to select Shanghai as the transshipment hub, further enhancing the competitiveness of China's cross-border supply chain in global trade.
