In the 2024 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Develop Index Report, Athens/Piraeus and Ningbo Zhoushan have made notable advancements, surpassing Hamburg, which has been demoted from its long-held seventh position to ninth place. Athens/Piraeus now holds the seventh spot, reflecting its significant investment in port infrastructure, increased volumes and profits, and a strengthened global fleet presence. The port’s appeal is further enhanced by its growing role as a technology hub for service providers. Ningbo Zhoushan, now in eighth place, benefits from its extensive port complex with 300 container routes connecting to 600 ports across over 200 countries. The report highlights Ningbo Zhoushan’s proactive and adaptable approach in handling global supply chain disruptions, which has bolstered its ranking. Additionally, Tianjin has entered the top 20 for the first time, claiming the 19th position between Oslo and Melbourne. This rise is attributed to its increasing cargo capacity, efficient throughput, and significant technological investments that have improved operational efficiency. The report, compiled by Xinhua’s China Economic Information Service and the Baltic Exchange, evaluated 43 port cities and maritime centres based on various factors. The rankings considered 20% weight for port attributes, 50% for business services, and 30% for the general environment, including government transparency, logistics performance, and customs tariffs. The top 10 ports averaged a score of 77.12 out of 100, the top 20 averaged 69.98, and the entire list of 43 ports had an average score of 59.13.