Global Maritime Hub

Global bunker prices rose sharply in July as renewed conflict in the Persian Gulf, crude oil volatility and higher logistics costs pushed marine fuel markets upward. The MABUX 380 HSFO …

According to Alphaliner, changing carrier strategies and growing feeder networks have reshaped the intra-North Europe container market over the past year. Maersk has achieved by far the highest growth in …

North American port volumes remained resilient in June, with the Port of Los Angeles recording its busiest June on record and several major U.S. gateways reporting strong year-on-year growth despite …

Containership demolition sales remained exceptionally low during the first half of the year, despite figures being boosted by accidents and sanctions, according to Alphaliner. The containership demolition market continues to …

Container shipping networks have become structurally leaner since the disruptions of 2020, with shipping lines maintaining broad global coverage while reducing service frequency and relying more heavily on transshipment, argues …

Containership sales declined sharply during the first half of 2026, although strong buying interest and limited vessel availability kept prices firm, according to Alphaliner. The second-hand sale and purchase containership …

US container ports continued to handle resilient import volumes in June 2026, even as shipping markets faced growing uncertainty from geopolitical tensions, evolving U.S. trade policy and ongoing supply chain …

Container fleet growth in the first half of 2026 was led by CMA CGM, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. After many years, MSC appears to be no longer the fastest …

The India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) could replace around 60% of the container traffic that currently passes through the Strait of Hormuz if expanded into a network of …

Container shipping portfolios differ sharply between European and Asian carriers, with Asian lines generally performing better due to stronger Far East export exposure, according to Alphaliner. Alphaliner’s latest quarterly report …

Global container shipping is entering a more volatile phase as shifting trade flows, geopolitical tensions, inventory imbalances and freight rate pressures reshape container markets in the second half of 2026. …

The global container ship orderbook is nearing 13 Mteu as owners increasingly turn towards smaller and mid-sized tonnage, according to Alphaliner. The global container ship orderbook is nearing the 13 …

Transpacific shipping could see a new wave of independent carrier services in the coming months, according to a recent market analysis from Sea-Intelligence. The company examined the relationship between Asia–North …

Intra-Europe shipping is seeing a sharp rise in the deployment of 8,000+ teu vessels in the Mediterranean, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. The number of vessels above 8,000 teu trading …

North American container traffic weakened in April as several major gateways reported lower inbound volumes compared with a year earlier, although performance varied significantly across the region. On the US …

Global bunker prices continued to decline during Week 24, 2026, as a temporary stabilization of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East eased concerns over possible supply disruptions. Bearish sentiment …

Gemini Cooperation is making a calculated shift in East/West container deployment, reducing capacity exposure on Transpacific and Asia-North Europe routes while aggressively expanding its Asia-Mediterranean network footprint. In issue 768 …

MSC has widened its container fleet market share gap with Maersk, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. The two leading container carriers displayed notably different market share trends in the month …

Global bunker prices remained volatile in Week 23, with fuel indices moving in different directions as uncertainty over the Middle East conflict continued to affect energy and bunker markets. The …

The global container fleet continues to shift strongly toward Far East–Europe services, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. The effect of the military conflict in the Middle East on shipping is …

West Africa container trade continued to expand in early 2026, supported by rising imports from China and growing consumer demand across the region. New data shows containerised imports into West …

Canadian ports are losing relative importance in global maritime trade as shipping connectivity and vessel capacity increasingly shift toward Asia, according to a new Bank of Canada analysis. The analysis …

Global bunker prices moved lower this week as reports of a possible US-Iran peace agreement pressured bunker fuel markets, although volatility remained high amid uncertainty around the Middle East conflict. …

Container carriers recorded widely varied first-quarter operating margins in 2026, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. Route trends lead to range of Q1 operating margins for lines. The average operating margin …

Strait of Hormuz shipping controls are tightening after Iran launched a new maritime authority and digital insurance platform aimed at strengthening oversight of vessels and cargoes transiting one of the …

Maritime electrification is accelerating as shipping companies increasingly adopt battery energy storage systems (BESS) to support hybrid propulsion and all-electric vessel operations amid rising decarbonisation pressure across the maritime sector. …

Global bunker prices edged higher this week, although the wider bunker market remained broadly stable with limited fluctuations and no clear directional trend. MABUX reported gains across the main fuel …

European carriers dominate the South America trades between Europe and ECSA & WCSA, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. The trades between Europe and the two coasts of South America are …

Transpacific container trade patterns continued to shift during the first quarter of 2026, with Canadian West Coast ports gaining market share at the expense of major US gateways as shippers …

US West Coast ports are regaining container volume momentum after years of disruption and competitive pressure, but new analysis from the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association warns that the region still …

MSC has secured a dominant position in the North Europe–Mediterranean container shipping market, according to Alphaliner. MSC controls nearly half of all cellular capacity deployed in the North Europe – …

Global bunker prices remained volatile during Week 20 as mixed movements continued across the marine fuel market amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East. HSFO prices edged lower during …

Global bunker prices recorded mixed movements this week as volatility continued across the bunker fuel market amid ongoing Middle East tensions. HSFO and VLSFO prices moved sharply higher, while MGO …

The Gulf conflict continues to tighten container tonnage supply, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. Nine weeks after the start of military action in the Middle East Gulf, commercial idling of …

Chinese container ships built for domestic and coastal trades are increasingly attracting attention in the global charter market, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. Over the past decade, the Chinese coastal …

Container shipping reliability improved in March 2026, with global schedule performance reaching its joint-highest level of the year, signalling a gradual stabilisation across major trade lanes despite ongoing delays. According …

IMO MEPC 84 maritime fuel regulations are shaping the future of alternative fuels in shipping, as new data reveals significant shifts in global fuel consumption patterns. The IMO MEPC 84 …

Container shipping speeds declined sharply in early 2026 as bunker prices surged, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. Between Q4 2025 and Q2 2026 (to 14 April), the average speed of …

Global bunker prices resumed a clear upward trend this week, supported by persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, supply-side concerns and elevated risk premiums across the bunker market. The …

Container shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is facing a sharp escalation in security risks, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. All three non-Iranian container ships attempting to transit the Strait …

Panama Canal traffic is increasing in 2026, with higher transits and tonnage reflecting resilient global shipping flows as the waterway continues to operate without congestion despite rising demand. The Panama …

Reefer capacity among top container carriers has expanded significantly, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. The top-10 carriers have jointly increased their reefer capacity by 7.9% since April 2025. MSC showed …

Global bunker prices declined this week as HSFO, VLSFO and MGO fell amid easing geopolitical tensions and stabilising energy markets. Global bunker prices moved lower this week as the market …

Global bunker prices moved lower this week as the bunker market entered a phase of temporary stabilisation following the April 8 ceasefire announcement in the Middle East. The correction was …

Mid-tier carriers recorded strong profit growth in 2025, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. Mid-tier carriers operating outside the principal East-West trade routes saw strong earnings development in 2025, significantly outperforming …

Container shipping rates remain elevated despite a two-week US-Iran ceasefire, as disruption in the Strait of Hormuz continues to impact global supply chains. Analysis from Xeneta indicates that container shipping …

Strait of Hormuz shipping remains effectively restricted despite ceasefire headlines, with container lines continuing to avoid transits due to ongoing security uncertainty and operational risks. Despite headlines to the contrary, …

Global bunker prices moved lower this week as bunker markets entered a corrective phase after reports of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East reversed the earlier rally driven by …

The decline in the NOO fleet has slowed, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. The fleet of Non-Operating Owners (NOO) in the 700 – 9,000 teu sizes, the most traded in …

Container freight rates are rising amid Middle East disruption, though volatility remains below Covid-era extremes. Shippers “should not panic” despite surge in Middle East ocean spot rates The increasing volatility …