Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) expresses its disappointment over the World Bank’s 2023 Port Ranking.
The Global Rankings of 2023 Port Performance, known as the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2023, a comparable assessment of performance based on vessel time in port, has been released this week.
The newest global CPPI reveals that East and Southeast Asian ports excelled in 2023, accounting for 13 of the top 20 places.
The statement for the release of the report indicated that, developed by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, the fourth edition of the CPPI is based on the biggest dataset ever: more than 182,000 vessel calls, 238.2 million moves, and about 381 million twenty-foot equivalents (TEUs) for the full calendar year of 2023.
However, DPFZA, which oversees the Doraleh Container Terminal (SGTD), one of the modern ports in Djibouti, expressed its concern about the latest report that highly downgraded the rank of the port.
“The DPFZA has noted with profound indignation the latest findings published in the World Bank’s Report, which ranks the port of Djibouti at 379th, a drastic and unjustified decline from our previous ranking of 26th,” the authority said in its statement.
“We express our strong disapproval of this report, which we believe grossly misrepresents the true status of our facilities and the quality of services we provide,” it added.
On the CPPI, Djibouti was even omitted from the regional Sub-Saharan Africa ranking.
“What is even more shocking is that our port has not been ranked or represented in the Sub-Saharan Africa Region Ranking, despite being recognized as the top leader port in this region for the past three years by the World Bank,” DPFZA says. “This omission is both perplexing and unacceptable.”
In its statement, DPFZA said that its ports are recognized leaders in maritime logistics, known for their efficiency and strategic importance to international trade, particularly in connecting Africa with global markets. “This reputation has been solidified through consistent performance and significant investment in infrastructure and technology, such as our advanced Maritime Single Window system that facilitates seamless trade operations.”
It claimed that the World Bank’s ranking misrepresents Djibouti’s well-established performance in maritime transport and port services.
It expressed its belief that this ranking may be due to discrepancies in data collection or a misunderstanding of its current operational context.
DPFZA said that there has been no decline in the quality or efficiency of its port services.
According to the authority, berth productivity at the Djibouti container port is 120 moves per hour. Vessel call statistics show significant growth, with 422 vessels averaging 1,765 moves per vessel in 2022, increasing to 556 vessels with 2,124 moves per vessel in 2023, reflecting a 31.75% increase. “In light of these issues, we are conducting a thorough review of the methodology and data used by the World Bank in their assessment. We will engage directly with the World Bank to address these discrepancies and ensure that a more accurate representation of our port’s performance is achieved,” DPFZA expressed its dissatisfaction in its statement.
According to the fourth report, regional disruptions impacted port performance everywhere.
“While the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath eased further in 2023, container shipping continues to be an unpredictable and volatile sector,” said Martin Humphreys, Lead Transport Economist at the World Bank. “Major ports need to invest in resilience, new technology, and green infrastructure to ensure the stability of global markets and the sustainability of the shipping industry.”
Looking at the top-performing ports, China’s Yangshan Port earned the top spot for the second consecutive year, while Oman’s Port of Salalah retained the number two position.
The port of Cartagena in Colombia ascended to 3rd place. Tanger-Mediterranean of Morocco held steady in 4th, and Tanjung Pelepas Port in Malaysia rounded out the top 5.
The CPPI ranks 405 global container ports by efficiency, focusing on the duration of port stay for container vessels.
There are 55 new entrants to the CPPI 2023, and several significant movers since the CPPI 2022. One hundred ports improved their ranking in CPPI 2023 compared to CPPI 2022, with some of the largest movers improving their ranking by more than 200 places.
Berbera Port in Somaliland topped the Sub-Saharan Africa Region score, coming in at number 103rd globally. In the 2022 CPPI report, Berbera came in second for the sub-region after Djibouti and 144th overall.
