Chinese terminals once again took top positions in the 2025 Container Port Performance Index, published by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence. Fuzhou ranked first, followed by Dalian, Salalah (Oman), Mawan, and Chiwan.

The index evaluates more than 400 ports worldwide based on container vessel turnaround time — from arrival at the anchorage or pilot station to departure after cargo operations are completed. With six Chinese ports in the top 16, East Asia continues to demonstrate a strong competitive edge in terminal efficiency.

One of the growing risks for the industry is so-called surge congestion. Because of weather disruptions, strikes, and geopolitical crises, vessel arrivals are becoming less evenly distributed, creating short-term pressure on berths, yards, and inland logistics infrastructure.

For container carriers, port efficiency is increasingly becoming a key factor in schedule reliability. Even a local delay at a major transshipment hub can quickly affect several trade lanes and increase the need for additional tonnage.