The 2026 World-Class Port Comprehensive Evaluation Report was released on May 27. The report indicates that the average comprehensive evaluation score for 34 global sample ports is 68.4 points, reflecting a 1.1% increase from the previous year.
Ports worldwide are categorized into two tiers: "World Leading" and "World's Top Tier." In the latest evaluation, Singapore Port, Shanghai Port, and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port are positioned in the world-leading cohort. The world's top tier cohort includes Shenzhen Port, Busan Port, Qingdao Port, Rotterdam Port, Guangzhou Port, Hamburg Port, Tianjin Port, and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
This report is compiled and published based on guidelines for building world-class ports. It employs a "quantitative + qualitative" methodology to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of 34 major global sample ports through a constructed evaluation index system. The aim is to provide decision-making references and directional guidance for China's world-class port development, while offering comprehensive port information products and evaluation advisory services to relevant entities including regulatory authorities, port and shipping enterprises, and financial institutions.
Since 2021, this report has been released annually for six consecutive years. Its findings have garnered widespread attention within and beyond the industry and received strong support from various sectors. It has become a crucial reference for analyzing development trends in China's port sector and benchmarking against top-tier ports domestically and internationally. The indicators and benchmarks presented in the report play a significant guiding role in China's world-class port construction, enhancing the nation's influence in global port development evaluation.
With the comprehensive advancement of Qingdao's international shipping center construction, the global influence of Qingdao Port continues to grow. In 2025, Qingdao Port's cargo throughput exceeded 740 million tons, and container throughput surpassed 32.89 million TEUs, representing year-on-year increases of 4.1% and 6.5%, respectively. These figures firmly maintain its position as the world's fourth and fifth largest port in these categories. The Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index for Qingdao rose to 13th globally, surpassing Tokyo and Busan for the first time in five years and leading among northern port clusters. This marks a significant improvement in the international influence and resource allocation capabilities of Qingdao's shipping industry. This coastal city, home to a world-class major port, is accelerating its transformation from a renowned port city into a world-class international shipping center.