Singapore tops global container port ranking as infrastructure leads

Behind Singapore, the global top five comprise Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Rotterdam, and Busan.

Singapore has been named the top container port in the world, taking the number-one position in the Leading Container Ports of the World ranking by DNV and Menon Economics.

The country also led all five pillars of the index: enablers, connectivity and customer value, productivity, sustainability, and overall impact.

The report credited Singapore’s performance to its world-class infrastructure, transparent governance, and best global connectivity, with links to every major shipping line and the highest number of mainline services.

It also highlighted the port’s advanced automation, as well as early investments in alternative-fuel bunkering, green shipping corridors, and emissions-reduction measures, giving Singapore a clear edge in both technology and sustainability.

The new ranking evaluates 160 container ports using 35 indicators that blend hard data, including throughput, berth productivity, emissions per TEU, and alternative-fuel availability, with expert assessments.

Container ports handle more than 80% of non-bulk merchandise and roughly 930 million TEUs a year, underscoring the need for sharper benchmarking.

Behind Singapore, the global top five comprise Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Rotterdam, and Busan. Shanghai remains the busiest port worldwide with 51.5 million TEUs in 2024, supported by strong ultra-large vessel handling, shore-power deployment, and green-corridor initiatives.

Ningbo-Zhoushan is the fastest-growing major port, reaching 39.3 million TEUs in 2024, up 26% in three years.

Busan is recognised as a high-efficiency transshipment hub in Northeast Asia, while Rotterdam leads Europe in alternative fuels, onshore power, and digital-twin applications. Other regional leaders include New York and New Jersey, Hamburg, Tanger Med, Jebel Ali, and Sydney.

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