Ningbo Zhoushan Port in East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Ningbo-Zhoushan, home to Ningbo Zhoushan Port, the world's largest port by cargo throughput volume, was ranked eighth among global shipping hubs in terms of comprehensive strength, according to the Xinhua-Baltic ISCD Index 2024.

That's one place higher than the previous year, with the accomplishment coming just three years after the port in East China's Zhejiang province broke into the top 10 for the first time in 2021.

The International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index is a collaboration between the Baltic Exchange, an independent source of global maritime market information, and Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

Now in its 11th edition, the index provides an annual independent ranking of the performance of the world's largest cities that offer port and shipping business services. Sampled cities are evaluated based on port conditions, shipping services, and the overall environment.

This year, Singapore retained its top position, followed by London, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Dubai, Rotterdam, Athens-Piraeus, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Hamburg, and New York-New Jersey.

Ningbo Zhoushan Port reported steady growth in its cargo and container throughput in 2023. According to statistics from the Zhejiang provincial port shipping management center, the port recorded more than 1.3 billion tons of cargo throughput in 2023, up 4.94 percent year-on-year. During the period, the port's container throughput totaled more than 35.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), representing a year-on-year increase of 5.85 percent.