Shanghai Overtakes London to Rank #2 Global Shipping Hub

Shanghai Moves Past London in Global Rankings

According to a report by The Maritime Executive covering the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCDI), Shanghai has overtaken London to become the world’s second-most significant shipping hub. The annual study, produced jointly by the Baltic Exchange and Xinhua News Agency, is now in its thirteenth edition and assesses 43 international shipping centres on port performance, professional maritime services, and overall business environment.

Singapore held onto the number-one position for the thirteenth year in a row, scoring 99.32 out of 100. Its lead is attributed to its location, deep bench of maritime finance, insurance and legal services, and its role in advancing alternative fuels and new technology.

Shanghai posted a score of 84.27, edging past London’s 81.80. The city has climbed steadily from seventh place when the index began in 2014, a trajectory the report links to its growing weight in global container trade. London held on to third, with Hong Kong fourth (80.87) and Dubai fifth (77.13). These five centres have now occupied the top five spots for nine consecutive years, pointing to a fairly settled hierarchy even as the gaps between them shift.

Movement Further Down the Table

Farther down the rankings, Ningbo-Zhoushan rose one place to sixth (71.09), pushing Rotterdam down to seventh (70.22). New York/New Jersey climbed two spots to eighth (69.50), passing both Athens/Piraeus (68.76) and Hamburg (67.36), which stayed in the top ten. The report notes that Shanghai’s advance came alongside gains for other Chinese centres, including Ningbo-Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Qingdao and Tianjin, all of which improved their standing versus last year.

No newcomers broke into the top 20 this year. The index’s authors frame this as evidence that the leading shipping centres remain structurally stable even as competition between them intensifies.

What the Index Measures

The ISCDI methodology draws on indicators such as cargo throughput, crane capacity, container berth length, and port draught, combined with the strength of shipbroking, ship management, ship finance, insurance and legal services in each location. Customs efficiency, digital government services and logistics performance also factor into the scoring.

Mark Jackson, Chief Executive of the Baltic Exchange, said the report reflects the growth and importance of global shipping hubs during a period of continuing volatility in shipping markets. Cao Zhanzhong, Head of the Xinhua Index Research Institute of China Economic Information Service, said competition among shipping centres has moved beyond port scale and route networks into green transition, digital innovation, maritime governance and resource allocation. Ang Wee Keong, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, said the ranking reflects the commitment of Singapore’s industry partners and the wider maritime community.

What It Means for Owners and Managers

For ship owners, managers and charterers, these rankings are more than a scoreboard — they signal where the depth of professional maritime services, from bunkering and finance to survey and inspection capacity, is concentrating. Shanghai’s climb reflects sustained investment in port infrastructure and ancillary services across Chinese hubs including Ningbo-Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Qingdao and Tianjin, which matters for vessels calling frequently in the region for cargo operations, bunkering, or crew and technical support.

As shipping activity consolidates around a stable core of leading centres, the practical question for operators is whether local service quality — including access to reliable bunker surveys, condition surveys and cargo inspections — is keeping pace with throughput growth. Rising cargo volumes and tighter port turnaround expectations in fast-growing hubs increase the value of independent, third-party verification at key stages such as bunkering and loading/discharging, particularly where port congestion or quality disputes can quickly become costly. Owners trading heavily through the top-ranked centres named in this year’s index would do well to confirm that survey and inspection support in those ports matches the scale of trade now passing through them.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.