Guangzhou has climbed one spot to 11th among the world's leading international shipping centers, according to the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index (ISCDI), released on July 10.
Compiled jointly by the China Economic Information Service and the Baltic Exchange, the index provides a comprehensive assessment of the competitiveness of major global port cities.
A view of the busy Nansha Port in Guangzhou (Photo: Guangzhou Daily)
The index evaluates cities in three dimensions: port infrastructure (20%), professional shipping services (50%), and the overall business environment (30%). Guangzhou demonstrated robust growth across all three areas.
Strong port infrastructure remains a key driver of Guangzhou's continued growth. In 2025, Guangzhou Port handled 699 million tons of cargo and 28.05 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), ranking fifth globally in cargo throughput and sixth in container throughput. Notably, its foreign trade container volume surged by nearly 20% year-on-year, accounting for more than half of its total container throughput.
In the critical area of professional shipping services, Guangzhou made notable progress in green shipping, customs clearance, and innovation. The launch of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Export Container Shipping Freight Index for ASEAN routes has strengthened the region's pricing influence. Meanwhile, the official inauguration of the Hong Kong platform of the Greater Bay Area Joint Shipping Exchange in the first half of 2026 established a robust Guangzhou-Hong Kong dual-platform mechanism.
Guangzhou's business environment also continued to improve, supported by cross-border trade facilitation reforms, such as the innovative "non-stop ship certification" process.
Port-related industries are becoming increasingly concentrated. Guangzhou has developed diversified industrial clusters in automotive manufacturing, marine engineering equipment, petrochemicals, cold-chain logistics, and grain and oil processing, further advancing the integrated development of the port, industries, and the city.
Looking ahead, Guangzhou authorities plan to further expand ocean-going shipping routes, upgrade smart and green infrastructure, and strengthen collaborative shipping networks to enhance the city's capacity to allocate global shipping resources.
Author | Dong Han
