Singapore Ranked World's Top Maritime Centre For 13th Consecutive Year

By Anas Abu Hassan

SINGAPORE, July 10 (NNN) -- Singapore has cemented its position as the world's leading maritime hub after retaining the top spot in the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index for a 13th consecutive year.

The Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said the city-state scored 99.32 out of 100, reflecting three decades of close collaboration between the authority and the maritime community to build a resilient and competitive maritime ecosystem.

The recognition was underpinned by Singapore's strong global connectivity, comprehensive maritime services, and its role as a trusted platform for the international shipping sector to connect and collaborate.

MPA Chief Executive Ang Wee Keong said the accolade reflected the strong commitment and collective efforts of industry partners and the wider maritime community.

“As the industry continues to evolve, we will continue working closely with our partners to strengthen Maritime Singapore’s competitiveness and create value for the global maritime community,” he said in a statement on Friday. 

MPA highlighted that the Port of Singapore handled a record 44.66 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in container throughput and 3.22 billion gross tonnage of vessel arrivals in 2025. 

It also remained the world’s largest bunkering port, supplying a record 56.77 million tonnes of marine fuel, including growing volumes of alternative marine fuels. 

“Today, Singapore is connected to more than 600 ports worldwide and is home to over 200 international shipping groups,” it said. 

According to the ISCD Index, Shanghai has climbed one spot to take second place, while London slipped to third.

The ISCD Index report evaluates 43 international shipping centres using a comprehensive framework covering port performance, professional maritime services and the wider business environment. 

-- NNN-BERNAMA