Cargo ships berth at a container dock of Qingdao Port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/Guanhai News]

The 2025 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index Report was unveiled in Shanghai on July 11, highlighting the top 20 maritime centers globally. Qingdao has climbed two spots to secure the 13th position, reflecting the city's progress in establishing itself as an international maritime hub with greater global influence and resource allocation capabilities.

An international maritime center features superior port logistics, comprehensive shipping services, and a developed maritime industry, playing a key role in the global maritime market. Qingdao's strategic location, robust infrastructure, extensive trade networks, and advanced container terminal automation technology have positioned it as a crucial node in China's comprehensive transportation system.

Since 2024, Qingdao has incorporated the development of an international maritime center into its urban strategy, consistently elevating its maritime hub capabilities. The revised overall plan for Qingdao Port has received national approval, and the port has maintained its global standing, handling 7.1 billion metric tons of cargo and 30.87 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), ranking 4th and 5th globally in cargo and container throughput, respectively.

Aligned with the three-year action plan for Qingdao international maritime center development (2024-26), Qingdao is accelerating efforts in various areas, including infrastructure enhancement, green port development, modern shipping logistics, and the development of a maritime AI ecosystem. By 2026, Qingdao Port aims to achieve a cargo throughput of 7.7 billion tons, handle over 36 million TEUs, operate 240 shipping routes, and boost the logistics industry's value.

The Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index Report, co-developed by Xinhua News Agency and the Baltic Exchange, has become a leading assessment system in the global maritime domain. Covering 43 maritime centers worldwide, the index evaluates port conditions, shipping services, and the overall environment, offering valuable insights for policymakers, businesses, and researchers across the industrial value chain.