FW Desk News
FreightWatch.News
Thursday, October 1, 2026
China's grip on international liner shipping has widened considerably, with its connectivity index reaching 1,347.6 in September 2026—more than double South Korea's score of 633, according to the latest United Nations Conference on Trade and Development assessment.
The UNCTAD index measures how deeply countries integrate into container-shipping networks by tracking vessel calls, port infrastructure, carrier availability and direct service reach.
Asia maintains overwhelming prominence in the sector, with eight regional economies—South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan—ranking among the world's 15 best-connected economies. The United States held fourth place globally, while Malaysia held fifth.
China's lead, established since 2023, shows no signs of narrowing. While South Korea and Singapore experienced modest monthly declines, both remained above year-earlier levels. The United States and Malaysia showed month-to-month improvement but remained below their September 2025 levels. Regionally, Spain, Egypt and Panama led their respective markets, though all three recorded year-over-year declines.
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