China, the world's largest exporter and importer, is the world's top shipping nation, according to a report by DNV GL and Menon Economics.
“The Leading Maritime Nations of the World”, presented 5 September at Hamburg's SMM 2018, measures international prowess in shipping, finance and law, maritime technology and ports and logistics.
"The strength of China is overwhelming, particularly on the pillar of ports and logistics, but also in shipping," said Erik Jakobsen, managing partner in Menon Economics and report co-author.
China was followed by US east and west coast ports, Germany's consistency, Norway's strength in maritime finance, law and technology and South Korea's shipping and ports ability.
The top three nations lead the roster due to their huge economies, said co-author Shahrin Osman, DNV GL Maritime's maritime advisory head for South East Asia, Pacific and India.
"Interestingly however, in the joint fourth position of Norway, South Korea, and Greece in the seventh position, we can see that ‘smaller’ countries can still have an outsize influence and importance to the maritime world," Osman said.
