Asia and Mideast dominate latest Port performance ranking

NEW YORK : Global container ports got a breather in 2023 as the pandemic’s hit to supply chains eased and trade volumes stabilized after a few turbulent years.

But even in a so-called normal year, labor issues, extreme weather and attacks on vessels near Yemen complicated operations at marine gateways all over the world.

Despite that, more than 100 ports improved their efficiency ranking from the year before, according to a new report.

Developed by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, the latest Container Port Performance Index ranked more than 400 cargo hubs based on vessel time in port.

The top two spots held steady for a second year — China’s Yangshan Port in first followed by Oman’s Port of Salalah. Colombia’s Cartagena climbed to third place, Morocco’s Tanger-Med held onto fourth place and Malaysia’s Tanjung Pelepas wound up in fifth.

Some other highlights:

• The highest-ranking US port was South Carolina’s Charleston at No. 53
• The top-ranked European gateway was Spain’s Algeciras in 12th
• One of the major Indian ports, Visakhapatnam Port, squeaked into the top 20
• Finishing near the end of the pack were the busiest facilities in the US — Long Beach and Los Angeles.

“One of the silver linings of the pandemic was greater awareness and focus on the resilience and efficiency of the maritime gateways, where any friction will result in tangible impacts on consumer choice, price and ultimately economic development,” the World Bank’s Nicolas Peltier-Thiberge and S&P Global’s Jenny Paurys wrote in the report. “That focus is even more important now.”