Summary of Key Points
On June 5th, the Comprehensive Development Research Institute (Shenzhen) released the "Global Ocean City Competitiveness Index Report 2026," which covers 60 representative ocean cities around the world. The report evaluates these cities using 24 indicators across five dimensions: economic and trade vitality, technological innovation, maritime services, international influence, and urban governance. The top four globally in terms of comprehensive competitiveness remain unchanged: London, Singapore, New York, and Shanghai. Chinese cities stand out with notable achievements: Shanghai leads the world in the number of international sister cities; Shenzhen has the highest volume of PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) international patent applications; and Qingdao has the highest number of international marine-related research papers published.
In terms of regional patterns, the North American ocean economy is on the rise, while Europe as a whole is experiencing decline, with the Asia-Pacific region being the most active. Southern Chinese cities are growing strongly due to national strategic support, whereas northern cities face challenges in transformation. The report has also been improved by adding a new indicator ("most-favored-nation tariff rate") and using the Dow Jones Factiva database for data, enhancing the scientific accuracy of the assessment.
Global Leading Ocean Cities: The Top Four Remain Unshaken, but Regional Forces Are Shifting
The top ten global ocean cities in terms of comprehensive competitiveness are generally stable, although there have been changes in their rankings:
- The "Iron Quadrangle" at the Top: London (with advantages in finance and maritime services), Singapore (as a shipping hub with efficient governance), New York (in finance and technology), and Shanghai (in ports and industry) continue to hold firm positions;
- Hong Kong's Rise: It has moved up to fifth place, overtaking Tokyo, thanks to its institutional strengths as an international financial and shipping center (such as its free-port policies and efficient maritime services);
- New Regional Players: North American cities like Houston (in energy and the maritime industry) and Los Angeles (in ports and trade) have risen to the forefront, while traditional European cities are showing slower growth. The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing frequent changes in rankings among its top cities (with Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong maintaining their leading positions).
Three Major Ocean Economic Circles: North America on the Rise, Europe Declining, Asia-Pacific Most Active
The report divides the world into three major ocean economic circles, each with distinct trends:
- North American Circle: Driven by policy, this region is seeing growth, with cities like Houston and Los Angeles benefiting from recent marine strategies (such as efforts to rebuild the maritime industry and support marine technology), leading to an overall improvement in rankings;
- European Circle: While leading cities like London and Hamburg remain strong, most traditional maritime cities are struggling with slow growth and facing competition from Asian-Pacific rivals;
- Asia-Pacific Circle: This is the most dynamic region, with top-tier cities such as Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong taking the lead. Internal rankings within this circle change frequently, reflecting the region's strong economic momentum.
Chinese Ocean Cities: Many Highlights, but Clear Weaknesses
Chinese cities have performed well in several indicators, but there are still areas for improvement:
- Highlights:
- Shanghai: Consistently ranked fourth in global port container throughput for 16 years, making breakthroughs in green methanol (an environmentally friendly fuel for ships), and leading the world in the number of international sister cities;
- Shenzhen: Has the highest volume of PCT international patent applications, indicating strong competitiveness in marine technology;
- Qingdao: Has increased its ranking to 15th due to a high number of international marine-related research papers published;
- Southern Chinese Cities: Many cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Hainan Free Trade Zone have seen improved rankings;
- Weaknesses:
- Marine higher education: No Chinese city is in the top ten for the number of specialized marine universities, indicating a lack of systematic and internationalized education;
- High-end maritime services: Cities on the mainland lag behind London and New York in areas such as marine finance, international arbitration, and marine consulting;
- Sustainable development: Although cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen perform well in terms of transportation convenience, they fall short compared to Singapore and Oslo in terms of sustainable development.
Analysis of the Five Dimensions
Chinese cities vary significantly across the five dimensions evaluated by the report:
- Economic and Trade Vitality: Asia-Pacific cities dominate, with Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou among the top 20. Shanghai and Ningbo-Zhoushan jointly lead in port cargo throughput and航线 connectivity, forming a global shipping hub;
- Technological Innovation: Chinese cities have made collective progress, with five of them in the top ten (Shanghai at second place), but marine higher education is a weakness;
- Maritime Services: London, New York, Hong Kong, and Singapore dominate high-end services, with Southeast Asian cities (such as Jakarta and Manila) growing rapidly; Chinese cities on the mainland are falling behind;
- International Influence: Shanghai leads in the number of international sister cities, and Hong Kong has a high media presence. However, European cities hold significant influence on global governance issues such as shipping decarbonization and green fuels;
- Urban Governance: Singapore, New York, and Oslo rank highly, while Hong Kong is also in the top ten. Chinese cities on the mainland perform well in transportation and marine awareness but lag behind in sustainable development.
Report Improvements: More Relevant and Scientific
This year's report includes two key improvements:
- New Indicator: The addition of the "most-favored-nation tariff rate" to the economic and trade vitality dimension provides a more accurate reflection of cities' competitiveness in international trade;
- Upgraded Data: The use of the Dow Jones Factiva database for the international influence dimension ensures that rankings are based on objective measures of media coverage, making them more credible.
These improvements make the report's findings more reflective of the current state of the global ocean economy. Overall, Chinese ocean cities have made rapid progress in tangible areas such as ports, patents, and research, but they still need to improve in softer aspects like high-end services, education, and sustainable development. The competition in the global ocean economy has shifted from focusing solely on port size to a comprehensive assessment of "technology + services + governance."