Iran’s Absence Among Top Ports in Western Asia
According to a report by sea-News , the World Bank has released the latest edition of its periodic Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) report. The CPPI report for 2023 provides a comprehensive assessment of global container port performance based on ship turnaround times at ports. Key findings from the report, published by the Research Center of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, indicate that maritime transport is crucial for global trade. Over 80% of global merchandise trade by volume is transported via maritime routes, with a significant and growing portion of this volume—about 35% of the total volume and over 60% of the trade value—being carried by containers.
In fact, maritime transport is considered the backbone of global trade and the supply chain for production. The maritime industry offers the most cost-effective, energy-efficient, and reliable mode of long-distance transport.
The World Bank’s Global Transport Group and the Market Information and Analysis Section have collaboratively developed the fourth edition of the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI). The CPPI focuses on the turnaround times of container ships at ports. The top container ports in the CPPI 2023 include Yangshan Port in China, Port of Salalah in Oman, and Port of Cartagena, with the fourth position held by Port of Tangier in Morocco. Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia is ranked fifth.
According to the published data, ports and terminals, especially container terminals, can be sources of delays in transportation, disruptions in the supply chain, additional costs, and decreased competitiveness. Furthermore, the negative impacts of poor port performance can extend beyond the port’s own scope to other ports, as container transport services follow fixed schedules with designated berths at each destination port. Therefore, poor performance at one port can disrupt the entire schedule. This, in turn, increases import and export costs, reduces the competitiveness of the region’s country behind the port, and hampers economic growth and poverty reduction.
The report highlights that the negative consequences are especially significant for landlocked developing countries and small island developing states.
World Bank analysts believe that developing high-quality, efficient container port infrastructure is a prerequisite for successful export-based growth strategies. Countries that follow such strategies are expected to experience higher economic growth compared to others.
Moreover, high-quality and efficient port infrastructure can facilitate investment in production and distribution systems, leading to increased production and logistics services, as well as creating more job opportunities and raising income levels.
