Maritime and other transport

Asian ports dominate global rankings, with Shanghai (2,416), Ningbo-Zhoushan (2,057), and Singapore (1,877) leading in Q4 2025. All three have shown sustained growth between 2006 and 2025. Pusan (1,648) and Qingdao (1,426) complete the top five, reaffirming the region’s stronghold in global port liner shipping connectivity. 

Despite disruptions—including port congestion, the COVID-19 pandemic, and evolving trade patterns—these ports have steadily improved their performance over time. Their resilience reflects sustained investment in port infrastructure, digital systems, and intermodal integration, which has strengthened their role in global maritime networks and enabled continued growth in liner shipping connectivity.

Malaga (Spain) recorded the strongest percentage growth in the Port Liner Shipping Connectivity Index over the period, with its connectivity increasing by 1,247% relative to its 2015 level, reflecting a more than twelvefold expansion over the decade. It is followed by Puerto Bolivar (Ecuador), which registered an increase of 848%, and Qinzhou (China), where connectivity rose by 571%.

The remainder of the top ten comprises Port Hueneme (United States), Archangel and Kaliningrad (Russian Federation), Batam Island and Sorong (Indonesia), Mangalore (India) and Taicang (China). While starting from relatively low levels of connectivity in 2015, these ports recorded strong relative gains over the decade, with increases ranging from around 245% to more than 360%.