For decades, a “good port” was simply a fast port. Performance was measured by how quickly cranes moved boxes and how many vessels cleared the berth. But as UNCTAD’s annual Review of Maritime Transport demonstrates, the criteria for assessing ports have undergone a profound evolution.
The journey toward holistic measurement began decades ago. In 1976, UNCTAD developed one of the first studies on port performance, proposing just 18 indicators split into two categories: financial and operational. For years, efficiency metrics like vessel turnaround time and cargo throughput dominated the conversation. However, the UNCTAD Review has increasingly recognized that a port’s value extends far beyond its ability to load and unload quickly.
A major shift occurred with the introduction of the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI) in 2004. This tool revolutionized analysis by measuring a port’s position within global shipping networks, capturing factors like the number of shipping companies, services, and direct connections to foreign markets—a concept far removed from simple throughput figures.
By 2013, UNCTAD’s Port Management Program expanded the framework further. A performance measurement component was developed, establishing 26 indicators across six areas: finance, human resources, gender, vessel operations, cargo operations, and crucially, the environment.
This expansion reflects a fundamental change in what stakeholders demand. Today, UNCTAD’s Review emphasizes that performance indicators must be “multidimensional metrics spanning a range of factors, including efficiency, cost-effectiveness, productivity, profitability, connectivity, access, social inclusiveness and environmental sustainability”.
The 2025 edition of the Review continues this holistic trend. It not only tracks traditional metrics like vessel turnaround times but also highlights how ports are integrating digital solutions, addressing decarbonization pressures, and navigating the complexities of geopolitical disruptions. The focus has shifted from purely operational success to strategic resilience, connectivity, and sustainability.
In essence, UNCTAD’s work shows that measuring a port’s performance has long shifted from merely counting boxes per hour to critically assessing its role as a resilient hub, its connectivity to global value chains, its environmental footprint, and its contribution to inclusive development. Therefore, the story of port performance is now a story of holistic competitiveness.