Global Maritime Hub

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 …

Global bunker prices continued to move higher this week as the bunker market remained volatile amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted supply chains and tightened …

European shipping is a vital part of the EU economy, supporting energy security, food supply, and stable global supply chains. While the EU represents a modest share of global GDP, …

Container shipping is reaching several new milestones at once, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. The fully cellular fleet has exceeded 6,700 ships for the first time in history: 6,706 vessels …

Oceania trade capacity on the Far East-Oceania route has expanded sharply over the past year, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. The Far East-Oceania trade has seen a significant capacity expansion …

North American container traffic showed a mixed but overall softer performance in February 2026, with declining import volumes at a national level masking significant divergence across key ports. Early forecasts …

Bunker fuel is rapidly emerging as the hidden fault line in the current Gulf crisis, with potentially far-reaching consequences for global shipping and trade. While markets remain focused on crude …

This move coincides with Iran notifying the United Nations Security Council and the IMO that: “Non-hostile vessels, including those belonging to or associated with other States, may—provided that they neither …

The Gulf conflict is tying up container shipping capacity and keeping commercial idling low, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. In early 2026, market sentiment expected liner services to return to …

Container shipping remains in a financial supercycle despite falling margins, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. The average operating margin for the leading container carriers slumped to 5.3% in the final …

The US government’s decision to issue a 60-day Jones Act waiver has triggered strong reactions across the maritime sector, with industry groups and labor unions questioning both its necessity and …

The container market remains firm across vessel sizes, according to industry analysts Alphaliner, even as the full impact of the Middle East war has yet to be reflected in charter …

Transhipment hubs were a major driver of global port volume growth in 2025, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. Throughput at the world’s leading container ports again exceeded forecasts in 2025, …

Global bunker prices surged sharply this week as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggered a rally in crude …

Container ships around the Strait of Hormuz are experiencing unprecedented AIS signal disruptions, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. Alphaliner live satellite vessel tracking shows that 48 container ships in the …

Intra-Europe shipping capacity has shifted significantly over the past year, with Maersk recording the strongest growth among carriers, according to industry analysts Alphaliner. Maersk has achieved by far the highest …

Global bunker prices surged in Week 10 as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East triggered sharp gains across marine fuel markets. The 380 HSFO index jumped above $560/MT, VLSFO climbed …

Middle East container shipping is facing severe disruption after escalating conflict in the Gulf left more than 130 container vessels stranded in the region. Container shipping in the Middle East …

The Asia–North America container trade saw Asian carriers strengthen their market leadership at the start of 2026, reports Alphaliner. Last month, COSCO SHIPPING Group, ONE and Evergreen were the three …

The Far East–Europe container trade has reached record capacity levels as carriers deploy more vessels on the corridor. Weekly deployed capacity on the Far East–Europe tradelane has climbed to an …

A comparison of container fleets shows significant differences in container fleet age among the world’s largest carriers. Evergreen’s fleet of nearly 240 vessels, with a combined capacity of just under …

Global bunker prices rose sharply in Week 09, with the 380 HSFO index climbing above $450/MT, VLSFO approaching $550/MT and MGO LS exceeding $800/MT, supported by continued strength across the …

MSC fleet capacity has surpassed the 7.2 Mteu mark, reinforcing the carrier’s dominant position in the global container shipping market. Geneva-based MSCCargo fleet has reached another milestone in a short …

The Hapag-Lloyd ZIM acquisition would see the German carrier take over the Israeli shipping line in a $4.2bn cash deal, marking one of the most significant consolidation moves in container …

Suez Canal traffic continues to decline as Red Sea security risks disrupt normal shipping patterns and delay a full recovery in vessel transits. While several carriers have announced a return …

Global bunker prices recorded a moderate decline in Week 08. The 380 HSFO index edged down to around $433/MT, while VLSFO slipped to about $520/MT. MGO LS posted the largest …

Global bunker prices moved in mixed directions in Week 07. The 380 HSFO index rose to around $432/MT, while VLSFO strengthened more notably to just above $520/MT. In contrast, MGO …

Container shipping is accelerating its shift toward LNG-fuelled vessels, as new entrants like Yang Ming begin deploying dual-fuel ships for the first time, according to Alphaliner. Last week, Yang Ming …

Container shipping capacity among mid-sized liner operators showed mixed movements over the past year, reflecting sanctions impacts and evolving network strategies. Тhe aggregate operated capacity of the eighteen medium-sized carriers, …

Global bunker prices moved in mixed directions in Week 06. The 380 HSFO index edged higher to around $426/MT, while VLSFO rose more firmly to just above $508/MT. In contrast, …

Data on the world’s leading container carriers show that average vessel sizes continue to rise on key Far East–Middle East and Far East–North Europe trade lanes. The ranking of the …

According to new data from Alphaliner, container ship demolition in 2025 fell to its lowest level in twenty years, with only twelve cellular container vessels scrapped. The number of cellular …

Red Sea container shipping is gradually returning as several major carriers have begun to reinstate Suez Canal services after a prolonged period of diversion around the Cape of Good Hope. …

Container ship demolition activity fell to its lowest level in twenty years in 2025, reflecting strong freight markets, high charter rates and owners’ reluctance to scrap older tonnage. New data …

The container charter market remains on an upbeat course, with a continued high demand for tonnage across the board and a limited supply keeping charter rates at healthy levels. Unsurprisingly, …

Global bunker prices continued to firm in Week 5, with all major MABUX indices moving higher. The 380 HSFO index rose to around $424/MT, while VLSFO climbed back above the …