The Consistency Champions: Large & XL Ports That Prove Excellence at Scale

How 10 major ports maintained rock-solid performance across 9 months while handling massive volume

Analysis Period: January–September 2025 | 38 Large and XL Ports Analyzed

In supply chain management, you need ports that can handle serious volume without falling apart. Large and XL ports move the containers that matter to your business, but not all of them deliver consistent performance.

We analyzed 38 of the world's major ports (Large and XL classification only) across 2025 so far. 10 ports proved that excellence at scale isn't just possible, it's measurable, repeatable, and worth routing around.

What makes these champions different:

• Maintained consistent anchor times despite handling massive container volume
• Month-to-month variance under 0.7 days, predictable enough to plan around
• Proved performance during peak seasons (CNY, summer surges)
• Handle the capacity your business actually needs

Meet the Champions: Excellence at Scale

The Top 10 Most Consistent Large & XL Ports

1. Valencia, Spain – The European Leader (Large)

Average anchor time: 0.898 days (21.6 hours)

Month-by-month performance:

• Range: 0.670-1.330 days
• Spread: 0.660 days across 9 months
• Consistency Score: 0.132 (Best in class)

What this means: Valencia is Spain's busiest container port. Less than 16 hours variance across 9 months while handling significant European trade volume. If you're routing into Europe, you can plan around sub-1-day anchor times consistently.

For your routing: Mediterranean transshipment or direct European deliveries. Predictable performance at the capacity level you need.

2. Colombo, Sri Lanka – The South Asian Gateway (Large)

Average anchor time: 0.711 days (17.1 hours)

Month-by-month performance:

• Range: 0.460-1.010 days
• Spread: 0.550 days
• Consistency Score: 0.148

What this means: South Asia's premier transshipment hub handles massive India-bound cargo plus regional distribution. Under 1-day anchor times with only 13 hours variance, operational discipline in a challenging region.

For your routing: If you're moving cargo to/from India or Southeast Asia, Colombo delivers consistency you can build supply plans around.

3. Singapore – Excellence at Massive Scale (XL)

Average anchor time: 0.095 days (2.3 hours)

Month-by-month performance:

• Range: 0.058-0.140 days (1.4-3.4 hours)
• Spread: 0.082 days (2 hours total variance)
• Consistency Score: 0.149

What this means: World's busiest transshipment hub,an XL port handling more containers than almost anywhere else. Vessels wait an average of 2.3 hours. Maximum variance across 9 months: 2 hours. That's what lets you commit to tight delivery windows.

For your routing: Transshipment through Singapore gets you speed and consistency. This is what you pay for when you route through tier-1 ports.

4. Shanghai, China – The Mega-Port Benchmark (XL)

Average anchor time: 0.600 days (14.4 hours)

Month-by-month performance:

• Range: 0.370-0.892 days
• Spread: 0.522 days
• Consistency Score: 0.151

What this means: World's largest container port by volume. Sub-1-day anchor times with only 12.5 hours variance while processing that volume. If you're sourcing from Eastern China, this is the capacity benchmark.

For your routing: Shanghai delivers the volume capacity you need with performance you can plan around. The scale here is unmatched globally.

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5. Jebel Ali, UAE – The Middle East Powerhouse (XL)

Average anchor time: 0.179 days (4.3 hours)

Month-by-month performance:

• Range: 0.114-0.250 days (2.7-6.0 hours)
• Spread: 0.136 days (3.3 hours variance)
• Consistency Score: 0.154

What this means: Middle East's dominant port and critical transshipment hub for Asia-Europe-Africa trade. 4-hour average waits with only 3 hours variance across peak and off-peak months.

For your routing: Middle East deliveries or transshipment via UAE. XL capacity with near-Large port consistency.

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6. Santos, Brazil – South American Reliability (Large)

Average anchor time: 1.013 days (24.3 hours)

Month-by-month performance:

• Range: 0.760-1.380 days
• Spread: 0.620 days
• Consistency Score: 0.157

What this means: South American ports face infrastructure constraints and seasonal commodity surges. Santos shows that even in challenging environments, you can get predictable performance. Anchor times are longer than Asian/European ports, but the consistency means you can plan around it.

For your routing: If you're routing to/from Brazil, Santos is your reliable play. Build the extra time into your plans, it'll be consistent.

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7. Tokyo, Japan – Precision at Scale (Large)

Average anchor time: 0.096 days (2.3 hours)

Month-by-month performance:

• Range: 0.060-0.140 days (1.4-3.4 hours)
• Spread: 0.080 days (1.9 hours variance)
• Consistency Score: 0.170

What this means: Large port handling significant Japanese import/export volume. Sub-2.5-hour anchor times with less than 2 hours variance across 9 months. Japanese operational discipline at scale.

For your routing: Japanese ports consistently deliver. Tokyo proves Large ports can match XL-level consistency.

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8. Rotterdam, Netherlands – European XL Champion (XL)

Average anchor time: 0.271 days (6.5 hours)

Month-by-month performance:

• Range: 0.210-0.447 days (5.0-10.7 hours)
• Spread: 0.237 days (5.7 hours variance)
• Consistency Score: 0.190

What this means: Europe's largest port and critical distribution hub. 6.5-hour average waits with only 5.7 hours variance while handling XL volume. European operational standards at mega-port scale.

For your routing: European distribution through Rotterdam combines capacity with consistency. Infrastructure is older than Asia, but operations are disciplined.

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9. Busan, South Korea – The Sub-1-Hour Mega-Port (XL)

Average anchor time: 0.040 days (1.0 hour)

Month-by-month performance:

• Range: 0.030-0.070 days (0.7-1.7 hours)
• Spread: 0.040 days (1.0 hour total variance)
• Consistency Score: 0.194

What this means: XL port, one of Asia's busiest container hubs. Vessels wait an average of 1.0 hour. Maximum variance across 9 months: 1.0 hour. Korean operational efficiency at mega-port scale.

For your routing: Northeast Asia routing through Busan. This is the benchmark for XL port performance.

10. New York/New Jersey, USA – North American Leader (Large)

Average anchor time: 0.089 days (2.1 hours)

Month-by-month performance:

• Range: 0.030-0.150 days (0.7-3.6 hours)
• Spread: 0.120 days (2.9 hours variance)
• Consistency Score: 0.203

What this means: NY/NJ has gone from congestion headlines to sub-2.5-hour anchor times with under 3 hours variance. North American ports can compete when operations are prioritized.

For your routing: East Coast deliveries through NY/NJ now deliver predictable performance at Large port capacity.

What Makes Champions Different at Scale

After analyzing 9 months across 38 Large/XL ports, three patterns separate champions from the rest:

1. They Maintain Performance Under Volume Pressure

Large and XL ports face constant volume surges, seasonal peaks, blank sailings catching up, regional trade shifts. Champions absorb these without performance degradation.

Example: Singapore handled summer peak season (June-August) with zero degradation. Busan maintained sub-1-hour waits through CNY and beyond.

2. They Invest in Throughput Velocity, Not Just Capacity

Adding berths doesn't guarantee consistency. Champions optimize vessel flow, berth utilization, and ground operations as an integrated system.

The data:

• Singapore: XL port, 2.3-hour waits
• Shanghai: XL port, 14.4-hour waits, massive volume
• Busan: XL port, 1.0-hour waits

All three handle massive volume. All three deliver consistency. Different strategies, same commitment to throughput velocity.

3. They Don't Sacrifice Consistency for Short-Term Gains

Champions maintain both low anchor times and low variance. They don't achieve 2 hours one month then spike to 20 hours the next.

The variance data:

• Champions: 0.040-0.660 day monthly range
• Volatile Large/XL ports: 2.0-5.0+ day swings month-to-month

The Business Case: Why Scale + Consistency Matters

For Your On-Time Delivery KPI

When routing through Large/XL champions:

• Predictable ETAs: 0.1-0.7 day variance = 2-17 hour uncertainty (vs. 2-5 day swings at volatile ports)
• Capacity when you need it: Large/XL ports handle volume surges without turning away vessels
• Better carrier service: Champions get priority from carriers

Example: Singapore's 0.082-day variance = 2 hours uncertainty. You can commit to customer delivery windows because you know when containers will actually leave the port.

For Your Cost to Budget

Champion Large/XL ports impact your P&L:

• Lower demurrage risk: Predictable dwell times = fewer overstay penalties
• Reduced safety stock: When 20+ containers arrive on schedule, you can tighten inventory
• Better carrier negotiations: Consistent ports command better rates and service

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Analysis based on Beacon Port Performance Index | January–September 2025 | 38 Large and XL ports analyzed across anchor times, berth times, and container dwell times | Consistency measured using coefficient of variation

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