Egypt ranked 19th globally and first in Africa on the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI) in the first quarter of 2026, rising three places from a year earlier, according to a report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
 

A cabinet statement on Thursday said the improvement reflects Egypt’s growing integration into global maritime transport networks, underpinned by its strategic location and major ports on both the Mediterranean and the Red Seas.

The LSCI measures how well countries are connected to global shipping routes, based on indicators such as the number of ship calls, port container-handling capacity, the number of shipping services and companies, vessel sizes, and the number of countries linked through regular maritime transport services.

Within Africa, Egypt leads the ranking, followed by Morocco (20th globally) and South Africa (23rd). A second group includes Djibouti, Togo, Kenya, and Tanzania, which benefit from major ports or roles as regional transit hubs.

Morocco’s performance is supported by the transshipment capacity of Tanger Med, while South Africa remains a gateway for southern Africa despite congestion at its ports.

Among Arab countries, Egypt ranked second after the United Arab Emirates, which remains the region’s most globally connected shipping hub due to its advanced port infrastructure and global shipping services.

Egypt has accelerated a nationwide programme to upgrade and expand its ports as part of a broader strategy to position itself as a regional logistics hub.

The government has added new berths and deepened channels at key Mediterranean ports such as Alexandria and Damietta, while developing Sokhna on the Red Sea into a major integrated hub linked to industrial and logistics zones in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

Investments have focused on modern container terminals, digital port management systems, and rail and road connectivity to hinterland markets.

Cairo is also expanding partnerships with global operators to improve efficiency and attract transshipment traffic, alongside plans to increase total port handling capacity and reduce vessel turnaround times.

Globally, the index remains dominated by major trading and transshipment economies. China retains the top position, driven by its extensive port network and central role in global manufacturing and exports.

Other leading countries typically include Singapore and South Korea, both major transshipment and logistics hubs, as well as the United States and several European economies, such as the Netherlands and Germany, which benefit from highly developed port systems and strong trade flows.