Singapore’s maritime sector has once again set the bar high, achieving record-breaking performance in 2025. The news was announced by Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport Murali Pillai at the Singapore Maritime Foundation’s New Year Conversations event on 13 January 2026. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported that vessel arrivals reached 3.22 billion gross tonnage (GT), a 3.5% increase from 2024. Container throughput also hit a new high, climbing by 8.6% to 44.66 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). Marine fuel sales grew to 56.77 million tonnes, up 3.4% from 2024, with a notable rise in the use of alternative marine fuels, from 1.35 million tonnes in 2024 to 1.95 million tonnes in 2025.
Singapore’s leadership in the maritime industry was further cemented with its recognition as the world’s leading container port in DNV-Menon’s inaugural Leading Container Ports of the World report. The port also received the Best Global Seaport award for the fourth time and was recognised as Best Seaport in Asia for the 37th time at the Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain Awards in 2025. These accolades underscore Singapore’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in maritime operations.
Expanding multi-fuel readiness is a key focus for Singapore. From 14 January 2026, the MPA will open applications for new LNG bunker supply licences, aligning with the growing demand for cleaner marine fuels. New Standards for Port Limit LNG Bunker Vessels will be introduced to ensure safety, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. In Q2 2026, the current Technical Reference for LNG Bunkering (TR56) will be upgraded to a Singapore Standard, enhancing safety and transparency in LNG bunkering processes. Additionally, the MPA and Enterprise Singapore will introduce Singapore’s first Technical Reference for Ammonia Bunkering in Q2 2026, guiding the early adoption and safe handling of ammonia as a marine fuel.
Two new Green and Digital Shipping Corridors (GDSCs) were launched in 2025 with India and the Republic of Korea, and the existing corridor with China was elevated to a national level. These bring Singapore’s total GDSCs to nine. GDSC projects planned for 2026 include the development of common emissions-reporting protocols, digital exchanges, and fuel trials to enhance global supply chain resilience and sustainability. In support of these efforts, a Keppel Ltd-led consortium was appointed in October 2025 to conduct front-end engineering design (FEED) studies for ammonia power generation and bunkering. In November, three methanol bunkering licences were awarded.
Advancing digital transformation, all bunker suppliers in Singapore had adopted digital bunkering by August 2025. This transition includes the verification of electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDNs) through a centralised facility. According to the MPA, the shift has significantly boosted productivity and transparency in bunkering transactions, saving an estimated 40,000 man-days per year in administrative efforts.
Singapore’s status as an International Maritime Centre (IMC) was further reinforced in 2025. Thirty-five maritime companies either set up or expanded their presence in the country, bringing the total number of international shipping groups to over 200. These firms collectively contributed around S$5 billion in annual business spending, underscoring the strength and diversity of Singapore’s maritime ecosystem. Singapore retained its top spot in the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index, highlighting its continued prominence in the global maritime landscape. Several new maritime innovation centres began operations in 2025, including the ABS Singapore Maritime Safety Centre, the BV-Singapore Institute of Technology Centre for Maritime Electrification, and the RINA Technology Demonstration Centre.
The Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) reached 137.46 million GT in 2025, a 27% increase from the previous year, becoming the world’s fourth-largest ship registry. In 2025, the registry awarded 34 Green Ship Certificates under the Green Ship Programme. Since 2020, it has flagged five methanol-fuelled ships and expects to flag its first ammonia dual-fuelled vessel within two years. Singapore was re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the 17th time and to the Council of the International Organization for Marine Aids to