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Nigeria’s maritime sector has recorded a major change as Tin Can Island Port and Lagos Port (Apapa) emerged among the world’s top 20 most improved container ports over the last five years.
According to the 2025 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) report, compiled by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, Tin Can Island Port ranked 10th globally among ports with the highest improvements between 2020 and 2025, while Lagos Port (Apapa) placed 12th.
The CPPI, now in its sixth edition, assesses container port performance based on vessel turnaround time, cargo handling efficiency, berth availability and overall operational effectiveness using global benchmarks.
According to data from the report, Tin Can Island Port improved its CPPI score by 42 points, rising from -68 in 2020 to -26 in 2025. Lagos Port also posted significant progress, gaining 35 points, moving from -61 in 2020 to -26 in 2025.
The improvement places Nigeria among countries making substantial progress in enhancing port efficiency, reducing vessel waiting time and improving cargo operations.
According to the report Nigeria exceeded several major international ports in the global rankings, including France’s Marseille Port, which ranked 11th with a 39-point improvement, Türkiye’s Iskenderun Port in 13th position with 34 points, and India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Port, which ranked 14th with 32 points.
Other ports on the list include Peru’s Paita Port in 15th place with 32 points, while China’s Keelung and Fuzhou ports ranked 16th and 17th respectively, each recording 27 points.
The United States’ Philadelphia Port ranked 18th with a 26-point improvement, followed by Brazil’s Itapoa Port in 19th position with 23 points and Egypt’s Port Said in 20th place with 21 points.
However leading the global improvement chart was South Africa’s Port Elizabeth, which recorded an 80-point increase. Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port followed with a 75-point improvement, while Ecuador’s Posorja Port ranked third with a 70-point gain.
Other high-performing ports include Pakistan’s Muhammad Bin Qasim Port and Vietnam’s Haiphong Port, both tied in 5th and 6th positions with 52 points. Italy’s Savona-Vado Port and China’s Mawan Port ranked 7th and 8th respectively with 51 points, while Japan’s Kobe Port came 9th with 48 points.
The report also showed that global ports continue to face disruptions caused by pandemic-related volatility, geopolitical tensions, supply chain rerouting and climate-related events.
Although these disruptions, according to the report, affect vessel arrival schedules, increase congestion and prolong time spent in ports.
In the foreword signed by the World Bank Group Director for Transport and Logistics, Bertrand De la Borde, and Vice-President and Head of Maritime & Journal of Commerce at S&P Global Market Intelligence, Guy Sear, the authors noted that supply chain disruptions often manifest through vessel bunching, unreliable schedules and severe congestion stating that prolonged vessel stays in ports worsen delays and reduce available shipping capacity across global networks.
According to them, the CPPI measures the duration container ships spend in ports, capturing the combined impact of nautical access, berth availability, cargo handling productivity, yard operations and coordination among stakeholders adding that efficient port operations remain critical to strengthening global supply chain resilience and improving competitiveness in international trade.
For Nigeria, the improved ranking presents an opportunity to enhance ongoing reforms in port infrastructure, digital processes and cargo clearance systems to further enhance business operations in the maritime sector.
