A recent report from the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence indicates that ports are no longer just passive victims of supply chain issues; instead, they are now key players in whether global disruptions...
A recent report from the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence indicates that ports are no longer just passive victims of supply chain issues; instead, they are now key players in whether global disruptions are widespread or contained.
The Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2025 reveals that the link between port performance and supply chain stress works both ways. While events like geopolitical conflicts, severe weather, and shipping disruptions can harm port efficiency, poorly performing ports can worsen these issues by causing longer delays for vessels and decreasing shipping capacity.
This report arrives at a time when global shipping is still facing challenges from the aftermath of the Red Sea crisis and ongoing tensions from the Iran war, which have significantly decreased traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing carriers to adjust their service networks.
“Ports are not just passively affected by external shocks; they actively influence how these shocks spread,” said Bertrand De la Borde, Global Director for Transport and Logistics at the World Bank Group. “They can either worsen disruptions or help reduce them.”
The report shows that the time vessels spend in port is a crucial indicator of supply chain health. When ships are delayed at anchor or at terminals, these delays affect global shipping networks. Vessels stuck in one port are not available elsewhere, leading to reduced capacity and unreliable schedules.
It also points out that current congestion often arises from “burst congestion”—when ships arrive in clusters after being delayed or rerouted due to outside events. Unlike traditional congestion from steadily increasing cargo volumes, burst congestion can overwhelm even well-equipped ports.
“Once this clustering happens, congestion can increase quickly, even in modern ports,” the authors noted.
Recent geopolitical developments illustrate this point. The report mentions disruption in shipping routes through the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, which forced carriers to change schedules and reroute vessels. When ships arrive out of order, ports struggle to manage berth assignments, labor, and storage capacity effectively. This leads to longer turnaround times and greater congestion, even if the volume of cargo remains stable.
The findings challenge the belief that port performance depends solely on physical infrastructure. While investment in equipment, terminals, and dredging is still important, the report emphasizes that operational resilience, coordination, and digital technology are becoming critical factors.
Ports that consistently perform well share certain traits: predictable ship turnaround times, strong coordination between terminal operators and authorities, efficient data-sharing systems, and the ability to recover quickly from disruptions.
“Resilience is just as important as peak efficiency,” states the report. “Ports that excel don’t just aim for maximum throughput under ideal conditions, but maintain operational discipline in times of uncertainty.”
Digital tools are especially vital. Sharing real-time information about vessel arrivals, berth availability, yard conditions, and landside transportation helps ports anticipate potential disruptions instead of merely reacting to them.
The report also points out significant regional differences in performance.
East Asian ports continue to lead in global rankings, taking many top spots in the 2025 index. Ports in upper-middle-income economies, particularly in Asia, are outperforming many in wealthier countries due to their strong export focus, intense competition, and ongoing investment.
Meanwhile, North American and European ports are recovering from pandemic-related disruptions but continue to face issues with congestion, labor shortages, and bottlenecks in surrounding areas.
The Middle East, which was once among the top-performing regions, saw a decline in performance due to schedule disruptions from the Red Sea crisis. Vessel clustering and increased uncertainty in arrivals were key factors in this decline.
For policymakers and port operators, the message from the report is clear: improving port efficiency is now about more than just cutting costs or boosting throughput.
In a world facing recurring geopolitical challenges, climate-related disruptions, and unpredictable shipping patterns, ports have become essential buffers for the global economy. Those that can quickly adapt to disruptions help stabilize supply chains, while those that can't risk increasing instability across shipping networks.
“Efficient ports are not only vital for competitiveness,” the report concludes, “but also crucial for how well supply chains manage and recover from disruptions.”