Singapore has retained its position as the world’s leading maritime centre in the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index, marking the 13th consecutive year that it has topped the global rankings.
The achievement underscores three decades of collaboration btween the MPA and the maritime industry to build one of the world’s most comprehensive maritime ecosystem. It comes as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The ranking recognises Singapore’s strengths in global connectivity, maritime business services and its role as a trusted platform for international shipping and maritime commerce.
Jointly published by the Baltic Exchange and China’s Xinhua News Agency, the Xinhua-Baltic ISCD Index is one of the industry’s leading international benchmarks. It evaluates maritime centres based on indicators such as port performance, maritime business services and the overall business environment.
Singapore’s continued leadership is backed by another year of record-breaking performance.
In 2025, the Port of Singapore handled a record 44.66 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of container throughput and recorded 3.22 billion gross tonnes in vessel arrivals. It also retained its position as the world’s largest bunkering port, supplying a record 56.77 million tonnes of marine fuel, including increasing volumes of alternative marine fuels.
The Republic’s maritime ecosystem also remains one of the most connected globally, with links to more than 600 ports worldwide and a maritime cluster that is home to over 200 international shipping groups.
MPA Chief Executive Ang Wee Keong said the recognition reflects the strong commitment and collective efforts of industry partners and the wider maritime community. He added that as the maritime industry continues to evolve, the MPA will continue working closely with stakeholders to strengthen Singapore’s competitiveness and create value for the global maritime community.
