Singapore continues to be world’s top maritime centre

Singapore kept its position as the world’s leading maritime centre in the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCDI), winning the honour for the 13th consecutive year.

The ISCDI Report, published on July 10, gave the Republic a score of 99.32 out of 100. The recognition is attributed to Singapore’s strategic location, established maritime services, and importance to alternative fuel development and technological innovation, said the report.

This comes as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) marks its 30th anniversary in 2026, MPA said in a statement on July 10.

The ranking reflects “three decades of close partnership between MPA and the maritime community to strengthen Maritime Singapore’s ecosystem underpinned by strong connectivity, a comprehensive range of maritime services, and Singapore’s role as a trusted platform for the global maritime community to connect and collaborate”, MPA said.

MPA chief executive Ang Wee Keong said: “We are honoured that Singapore has once again been recognised as the world’s leading maritime centre. This reflects the strong commitment and collective efforts of our industry partners and the wider maritime community.”

Other shipping hubs in the top five are Shanghai (84.27), London (81.80), Hong Kong (80.87), and Dubai (77.13). Singapore has taken the top spot every year since the index’s inception.

The index is jointly published by China news agency Xinhua and maritime market data firm Baltic Exchange. It evaluates 43 international shipping centres, taking into account port performance, professional maritime services and the wider business environment.


-The Strait Times