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Review of maritime transport 2025: Staying the course in turbulent waters (Overview)

Report

Title: Review of maritime transport 2025: Staying the course in turbulent waters (Overview)
Author:
UNCTAD
Affiliation:
United Nations
Publication Date:
Document Number:
UNCTAD/RMT/2025 (Overview) and Corr.1
Pages:
1-32
Publisher:
UNCTAD
Fuels Group:
Other
Fuel Blends Mentioned?
No
Topics:
Policy, Strategy and Transition Pathways, Fuel Supply, Infrastructure and Bunkering, Markets and Forecasting
Vessel Segment:
Ocean-going Vessels
Language:
English

Document Access

Website:
Document Source
Attachment: Access File
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(7.3 MB)

Citation

UNCTAD (2025). Review of maritime transport 2025: Staying the course in turbulent waters (Overview) (Report No. UNCTAD/RMT/2025 (Overview) and Corr.1). Report by United Nations.
@techreport{UNCTAD-2025-,
author = {UNCTAD},
title = {Review of maritime transport 2025: Staying the course in turbulent waters (Overview)},
institution = {United Nations},
year = {2025},
month = {jan},
number = {UNCTAD/RMT/2025 (Overview) and Corr.1},
url = {https://unctad.org/publication/review-maritime-transport-2025},
keywords = {Other, Policy, Strategy and Transition Pathways, Fuel Supply, Infrastructure and Bunkering, Markets and Forecasting, Ocean-going Vessels},
}
Export Citation to BibTex
TY - RPRT
TI - Review of maritime transport 2025: Staying the course in turbulent waters (Overview)
AU - UNCTAD
AB - Longer routes have increased delays, costs and emissions, with developing countries hit hard by the disruptions and uncertainty. Deep transitions are also reshaping the sector. Technological, environmental and geoeconomic shifts are converging at a speed that requires rethinking how maritime transport operates. Alternative fuel vessels now represent over half of the ship tonnage of new orders, yet over 90% of the active fleet still runs on conventional fuels. Automation and digitalization promise efficiency but also heighten cyber risks. Maritime transport has weathered storms before. But never have so many transitions converged so quickly. The sector will adapt. The question is whether adaptation will be managed or chaotic, inclusive or divisive, sustainable or merely survivable. The Review of Maritime Transport 2025 provides the framework needed for informed action and sound policymaking to keep trade flowing in a turbulent world.
DA - 2025/01//
PY - 2025
SP - 1
EP - 32
PB - United Nations
SN - UNCTAD/RMT/2025 (Overview) and Corr.1
UR - https://unctad.org/publication/review-maritime-transport-2025
LA - English
KW - Other
KW - Policy, Strategy and Transition Pathways
KW - Fuel Supply, Infrastructure and Bunkering
KW - Markets and Forecasting
KW - Ocean-going Vessels
ER -
Export Citation to RIS

Abstract

Longer routes have increased delays, costs and emissions, with developing countries hit hard by the disruptions and uncertainty. Deep transitions are also reshaping the sector. Technological, environmental and geoeconomic shifts are converging at a speed that requires rethinking how maritime transport operates. Alternative fuel vessels now represent over half of the ship tonnage of new orders, yet over 90% of the active fleet still runs on conventional fuels. Automation and digitalization promise efficiency but also heighten cyber risks. Maritime transport has weathered storms before. But never have so many transitions converged so quickly. The sector will adapt. The question is whether adaptation will be managed or chaotic, inclusive or divisive, sustainable or merely survivable. The Review of Maritime Transport 2025 provides the framework needed for informed action and sound policymaking to keep trade flowing in a turbulent world.