Venezuela recorded the world’s strongest annual increase in liner shipping connectivity in the third quarter of 2026, according to UNCTAD data. The improvement comes as shipping lines adjust their Venezuelan port calls following operational disruptions at La Guaira.
Venezuela recorded a 91.4% year-on-year increase in its Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI) in the third quarter of 2026, the highest growth rate among economies covered by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The figures, updated on 28 September 2026, place the country ahead of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (+89.3%) and the Syrian Arab Republic (+79.7%).
The country’s LSCI reached 65.1, placing Venezuela 79th among 178 economies. Although the increase is substantial, its overall connectivity remains below that of the world’s major container shipping hubs.
What the connectivity increase actually measures
UNCTAD’s LSCI assesses how closely an economy is integrated into international container shipping networks. The index considers six components, including scheduled vessel calls, deployed container capacity, the number of regular shipping services and operators, maximum vessel size, and direct connections to other countries.
The index is benchmarked against average maritime connectivity in the first quarter of 2023, with a reference value of 100. Higher values indicate stronger integration into global liner shipping networks.
Venezuela’s 91.4% increase therefore reflects an improvement in its relative connectivity rather than an equivalent rise in container throughput or international trade volumes.
UNCTAD’s latest data also show that larger maritime hubs generally experienced more moderate changes, while smaller and less-connected economies recorded sharper percentage fluctuations. The organization noted that connectivity losses outnumbered gains in the third quarter, making Venezuela’s increase particularly notable.
The country’s September 2026 monthly LSCI reached 71.7, representing a 110.9% increase compared with September 2025. However, monthly and quarterly figures cover different reference periods and should not be interpreted as interchangeable measures.
Puerto Cabello and La Guaira lead Venezuela’s port connectivity
At the port level, Puerto Cabello recorded the country’s highest Port Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (PLSCI) in the third quarter of 2026, reaching 59.8, an increase of 18.6% year on year.
La Guaira followed with an index of 52.3 (+22%), while Guanta registered 25.9 (+37.9%). Although Guanta experienced the strongest percentage growth among these three ports, Puerto Cabello and La Guaira maintained higher levels of connectivity.
These developments come against a background of operational disruption following earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June 2026, causing structural damage to La Guaira Container Terminal.
In a customer advisory issued on 26 June, CMA CGM confirmed that its vessels were being diverted to Puerto Cabello to maintain cargo operations. The carrier stated:
“This operational adjustment has been implemented to ensure continuity of service under the current circumstances.”
The changes affected CMA CGM’s Cagema V service, with vessels scheduled to call at Puerto Cabello instead of La Guaira. For its PEX2 service, containers were redirected through Cartagena, Colombia, for transshipment and onward connection to Venezuela.
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) also announced cargo diversions to Puerto Cabello in early July, using regional feeder connections to maintain deliveries.
The adjustments demonstrate the role of alternative ports and transshipment arrangements in maintaining maritime services during infrastructure disruptions. However, available data do not establish whether these changes contributed directly to the country’s annual LSCI increase.
Stronger connectivity, but traffic growth remains unconfirmed
Venezuela’s improved position in the liner shipping connectivity rankings indicates changes in its access to international container shipping services. For shippers and logistics operators, network connectivity is an important consideration because it can influence transport options, routing flexibility and access to overseas markets.
Nevertheless, the increase must be interpreted within the limits of the indicator. The LSCI measures scheduled maritime connectivity, not actual cargo volumes, port productivity or freight costs.
The national index also cannot be directly compared with individual port connectivity scores, which measure integration at different geographical levels.
While the third-quarter figures confirm a significant improvement in Venezuela’s relative position within global liner shipping networks, additional service-level and port throughput data would be needed to determine the underlying drivers and assess whether the increase translates into sustained commercial activity.
