Mega-hub era wanes as carriers disperse global connectivity
Global container shipping is undergoing a structural shift away from traditional mega-hubs such as Singapore, Port Klang, Tanjung Pelepas, Shanghai, and Ningbo. According to SeaIntelligence’s analysis of UNCTAD’s Port Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (PLSCI), what began as temporary rerouting due to disruptions in the Red Sea and Middle East has now become a long-term network strategy. Shipping lines are increasingly distributing cargo through secondary regional ports rather than concentrating it at a few major transshipment hubs. Ports such as Djibouti, Khor Fakkan, Jeddah, Ennore, Pipavav, Visakhapatnam, and Haiphong have seen strong growth in connectivity as carriers seek more flexible and resilient supply chains. The trend is also being reinforced by the “China+1” manufacturing strategy, which is shifting production and logistics flows across Asia. While some traditional hubs are losing connectivity, selected regional gateways that support cross-border supply chains are gaining importance. SeaIntelligence concludes that this is not a temporary response to crises but a permanent recalibration of global shipping networks, with carriers favoring a more decentralized and diversified routing structure. (....)