Nigeria’s Tin Can Island Port and Apapa Port Complex have been ranked among the most improved container ports globally over the last five years, according to the 2025 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) released by the World Bank.
The report, compiled by the World Bank in collaboration with S&P Global Market Intelligence, listed both ports in the category of the Top 20 Most Improved Ports worldwide, highlighting significant progress in operational efficiency and vessel turnaround time between 2020 and 2025.
According to the report, Tin Can Island Port ranked 10th globally among ports with the highest improvements during the review period, while Lagos Port Complex, commonly known as Apapa Port, secured the 12th position.
The CPPI, now in its sixth edition, measures container port performance using global benchmarks focused on vessel turnaround time and overall operational efficiency. The index serves as a data-driven assessment tool that enables comparisons among ports across the world while identifying areas of progress and operational challenges.
Data from the report showed that Tin Can Island Port recorded a 42-point improvement in its CPPI score, moving from -68 in 2020 to -26 in 2025. Lagos Port also posted a strong performance, improving by 35 points from -61 in 2020 to -26 in 2025.
The World Bank noted that the improvement reflects enhanced cargo handling operations, better vessel turnaround times and growing efficiency within Nigeria’s port system over the last five years.
The development comes amid efforts by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to strengthen port operations and support trade facilitation in the country. The improved performance also aligns with Nigeria’s sustained trade surplus recorded since 2024.
Most recently, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that Nigeria posted a trade surplus of N7.54 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, a development industry stakeholders say has been supported by improvements in port efficiency and maritime logistics.
Nigeria’s ports outperformed several major international ports in the global improvement rankings. France’s Marseille Port ranked 11th with a 39-point improvement, while Türkiye’s Iskenderun Port placed 13th with a 34-point increase. India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Port came 14th with a 32-point gain.
Other ports on the list include Peru’s Paita Port in 15th position with 32 points, while China’s Keelung and Fuzhou ports occupied the 16th and 17th spots respectively, each recording a 27-point improvement.
Industry observers say the ranking could boost investor confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector and reinforce the country’s position as a major trade hub in West Africa.
