In a new report this week, S&P Global and the World Bank investigate the relative performance of global ports (see “ Regional Disruptions Drive Changes in Global Container Port Performance Ranking ”) using a mixture of AIS and port-reported information.

The report notes that “poor performance in a port can extend beyond that port’s hinterland and disrupt entire schedules,” which “increases the cost of imports and exports (and) reduces competitiveness.”

The top-ranked container ports in the CPPI 2023 are Yangshan Port (mainland China) in first place, followed by the Port of Salalah (Oman) in second place, retaining their ranking from the CPPI 2022. The third place in the CPPI 2023 is occupied by the port of Cartagena, up from fifth place in the CPPI 2022, while Tanger Mediterranean retains its fourth-place ranking.

Further down the table, Ningbo moved up from 12th in 2022 to seventh in 2023. Visakhapatnam became the first Indian port to enter the top 20 as India increased its investment in logistics infrastructure (see “ ‘Make In India’ Manufacturing Push Hinges on Logistics Investments ”).

The port of Baltimore, which came 189th out of 405 ports in the 2023 survey, is close to recovery with a full reopening due by June 10, according to the Journal of Commerce. The closure of the port has required diversions by container lines to other ports, including services that may not return straight away (see “ Find another way: Baltimore port restrictions’ impact on autos, commodity supply chains ”).

Container freight imports to Baltimore were around 45,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) in February, S&P Global Market Intelligence data shows. Ports that have picked up significant volumes in May versus February include Newark/New York (68,250 TEUs), Norfolk (28,944 TEUs) and Savannah (23,144 TEUs).
Trade in the area may also have been disrupted by IT issues at the port of Charleston, whose shipments fell by 20,000 TEUs over the same period.
The next supply chain challenge is only ever around the corner. The Arthur Ravenal Jr. Bridge near Charleston, South Carolina, was closed temporarily after the crew of the MSC Michigan 7 lost positive control of its propulsion, according to reports.
Source: S&P Global