The Ningbo Port Index (NPI), a new global index system for the port industry, made its debut at the 2018 Maritime Silk Road Port International Cooperation Forum in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on June 14.

The system consists of two main indices – the Ningbo Port Prosperity Index and the Ningbo Port Confidence Index, and four sub-indices relating to containers, dry bulks, liquid bulks and general cargos.

It closely tracks changes in the port industry on the basis of an in-depth analysis of a large number of surveys and samples collected from ports and port companies, and forecasts the development trend for the sector.

The NPI is expected to provide important scientific data and references for port cities when they implement new policies.

A staff member from Ningbo Shipping Exchange explained at the forum that at present, there are two kinds of index systems for the port industry,  one that only measures the cargo throughput and the other that measures several elements but doesn't provide enough data to be a very reliable system.

Gao Aiying, a researcher from China Academy of Transportation Sciences, said that the NPI will lead the world in the monitoring and analysis of the port industry and will play an exemplary role in the global port sector.

"We are going to develop the NPI into an internationally recognized index system to better serve the global port and shipping industries," said Ge Gengjian, director of Ningbo's port and shipping administration.

The Ningbo Port Index debuts at the 2018 Maritime Silk Road Port International Cooperation Forum in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on June 14. [Photo from Ningbo Shipping Exchange]