The world’s leading maritime centre is once again Singapore according to the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index. The Lion City has topped the ranking since the annual report was first published in 2014.
Jointly published by the Baltic Exchange and China’s Xinhua News Agency, the Xinhua-Baltic ISCD Index is an internationally recognised benchmark of leading maritime centres. The index assesses 43 maritime hubs across a range of indicators, including port performance, maritime business services, and the overall business environment.
Achieving a score of 99.32 out of 100, Singapore’s number one ranking reflects its strategic location and established maritime services spanning finance, insurance and legal expertise, as well as its importance to alternative fuel development and technological innovation, according to the announcement by Baltic Exchange.
The report states that Singapore “remains a powerhouse of maritime services and operations, as well as a global leader of innovation and digitalisation across our industry”.
In 2025, the Port of Singapore handled a record 44.66 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in container throughput and 3.22 billion gross tonnage in vessel arrivals. Singapore 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.
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore chief executive Ang Wee Keong says that the achievement is a reflection of the “strong” commitment and collective efforts of industry partners and wider maritime community. “We are honoured that Singapore has once again been recognised as the world’s leading maritime centre,” he adds. “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.”
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Shanghai is first runner-up with a score of 84.27, while London rounded up the top three with a 81.80 score.
