News

UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) year-end Global Trade Update shows East Asia, Africa and South–South trade powering gains, even as rising uncertainty shapes the outlook for 2026. Global trade is on course to exceed $35 trillion in 2025 for the first time, according to UNCTAD’s final Global Trade Update of the year. The new data …

Newbuilding ordering activity picked up the pace over the past week, as the year end draws closer. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Banchero Costa said that “in the tanker sector, UK-based Zodiac Maritime placed an order of 2 x 306,000 dwt VLCCs to Jiangsu New Hantong in China. No prices were disclosed and deliveries …

Fitch Ratings has maintained its deteriorating outlook for the global shipping sector, reflecting geopolitical and policy risks, according to an Outlook report released today. The sector will also be affected by the lower GDP growth we expect across most major economies in 2026 compared to 2025, with downside risk from any correction in financial markets. …

Lloyd’s Register (LR) and Latsco have successfully completed a proof-of-concept for a new standard in digital class assurance with data-driven surveys. This collaboration aims to demonstrate how verified operational vessel data can fully meet class survey requirements, without compromising safety, integrity, or technical rigour. The proof-of-concept was conducted on the vessel HELLAS MARGARITA during an …

The tanker market is expected to enter 2026 in a strong position for further freight market strides. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Intermodal said that “Beijing’s release of the first batch of 2026 import quotas has prompted Chinese independent refiners, including both larger and smaller “teapot” refineries, to re-emerge as active buyers in the …

As international diplomatic efforts around the Russia–Ukraine conflict continue, we are closely monitoring the year-over-year changes in Russian grain shipment volumes. EGYPT| Top Destination for Russian Wheat Egypt’s near-doubling of Russian wheat imports in November is consistent with the country’s renewed buying spree, as state buyer Mostakbal Misr secured roughly 500,000 tonnes of Black Sea …

In July 2025, DNV published the statutory news “FuelEU Maritime: Key updates on fuel certification, methane slip, and exemptions”. Building on this, and considering customer engagement, this statutory news provides further clarification regarding the application of flexibility mechanisms such as banking, borrowing and pooling. NEED TO KNOW To achieve compliance, the FuelEU regulation allows flexibility …

It seems that the tanker market will experience diverging paths amongst its various classes, but mainly between crude and product tanker in the years to come. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Gibson said that “the 2025 edition of the IEA’s World Energy Outlook (WEO) arrived at a moment of mounting turbulence, driven by geopolitical …

Capesize The market delivered a firm performance this week, characterised by early strength, a mid-week surge and a measured correction thereafter. Positive momentum was established in the Pacific, where steady miner activity and tightening tonnage lists kept C5 values anchored in the low-to-mid $12s. While sentiment eased slightly toward the end of the week, the …

More newbuilding orders for dry bulk carriers were reported during the past week. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Banchero Costa said that “in the bulk sector, Singaporean owner Winning International placed an order for 2 x 325,000 dwt ore carriers to Hengli H.I. in China. The ship design is in collaboration with SDRARI in …