The Container Port Performance Index 2025 : A Comparable Assessment of Performance based on Vessel Time in Port - Annex

Overview & Synopsis

The Container Port Performance Index provides a consistent, data-driven assessment of container port performance based on observed vessel time in port. Now in its sixth year of publication, the index has evolved into a mature global benchmark that allows comparison across ports, regions, and income groups, and over time. It was developed in response to the need for an objective performance measure that reflects how ports function within real maritime networks, rather than relying on self-reported metrics or partial operational indicators. By focusing on vessel time in port, the index captures the combined effect of nautical access, berth availability, cargo handling productivity, yard operations, coordination among stakeholders, and hinterland interfaces. The index’s relevance has increased as global supply chains have become more exposed to shocks. Over the period covered by the CPPI, container shipping and port systems have faced unprecedented disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, sharp swings in demand, congestion cascades, and, more recently, geopolitical rerouting and climate-related events. These developments have highlighted the central role of ports in the functioning of global trade systems. Ports influence not only local efficiency outcomes but also the reliability, cost, and resilience of international supply chains. The growing CPPI time series allows stakeholders to move beyond one-year rankings toward trend analysis, enabling a better understanding of structural performance, cyclical volatility, and recovery capacity. The CPPI is both a benchmark and a diagnostic tool. It allows policymakers, port authorities, operators, and development partners to observe how port performance evolves, responds to external shocks, and compares with peer groups. At the same time, the index has increasingly proven useful as a lens for observing broader supply chain stress, given the tight relationship between vessel time in port and congestion, schedule reliability, and effective shipping capacity.