Shipping centres: Singapore maintains top spot as Asia-Pacific region continues to strengthen

Singapore remains unmoved at the top of the International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index for the fifth successive year, following a benchmark report published today (10 July 2018) by the Baltic Exchange and Xinhua, China’s news agency.

The index covers 43 of the world’s largest ports and cities and is designed to bring clarity to investors and governments on the relative performance of shipping centres around the world. 

The Asia-Pacific region now makes up 50% of the top 10, with three of those centres making up the top four. Singapore maintains its leading position for the fifth consecutive year due to the strategic opportunities brought about by the “Belt and Road” initiative. Hong Kong overtook London – for the first time in five years – to take second place, although London is still assessed to be the top professional maritime services location.
  
Shanghai moved up to fourth place thanks to its rapidly developing modern shipping logistics and shipping services systems, in addition to the coordinated development of its regional shipping counterparts. Tokyo held ninth position, while Busan returned to the top ten, replacing Athens, by virtue of its strategy of vigorously developing its transhipment ports. 

The impact of the overall weak economy in the European region meant London’s overall development was behind that of Hong Kong, while Hamburg dropped to seventh. Better news in the European region came from Rotterdam who jumped two places to sixth in the overall rankings due to improved operating efficiency, with new technology applications such as the internet of things, big data, and artificial intelligence, as well as smart port construction. 

Commenting on the report’s findings, Baltic Exchange CEO, Mark Jackson, said:

“This report underlines the constant competition and innovation taking place in cities around the world to attract maritime related businesses. Location is an important ingredient for success in the shipping industry and plays an important part in meeting the latest challenges. The right location gives companies access to clients, the best employees and is a platform for long-term business success.” 

Elsewhere, Dubai maintained fifth in the rankings, driven by its innovative free-trade zone and improvement in trade environment, while New York dropped from seventh to eighth.  

The report also provides a supplementary ranking, grading cities based solely on the breadth and depth of their maritime services sector, covering shipbroking, engineering, shipping business, legal, shipping finance service and ship repair services. 

2018 shows the top ten port cities with the best professional shipping services are, by order of ranking: London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dubai, Athens, Hamburg, New York-New Jersey, Tokyo, and Houston. Of these, London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai have been occupying the top four places for four consecutive years. Houston’s shipping services have gained significant momentum in development and attained a top ten place for the first time in five years.

For further details on the ISCD Index, please contact Marcus Lee, the Baltic Exchange at mlee@balticexchange.com.  

Notes to editors 

Click here to download a full copy of the report (English and Chinese).

About the Baltic Exchange

The Baltic Exchange is the world's only independent source of maritime market information for the trading and settlement of physical and derivative contracts. Its international community of over 640 members encompasses the majority of world shipping interests and commits to a code of business conduct overseen by the Baltic. 

Baltic Exchange members are responsible for a large proportion of all dry cargo and tanker fixtures as well as the sale and purchase of merchant vessels. In November 2016, the Baltic Exchange was acquired by Singapore Exchange (“SGX”), bringing together complementary strengths of Singapore and London, two of the world’s most important maritime centres.

Baltic Exchange services

•         Independent, high quality dry, wet and gas freight market information 
•         Self-regulated chartering, sale and purchase and freight derivatives markets 
•         Central forum for competing freight market interests 
•         Framework ensuring high standards of business practice and co-operation 
•         London-based business facilities for members