Review of Maritime Transport 2023

Towards a Green and Just Transition

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

• Publisher: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN: 9789210028868
• eBook ISBN: 9789213584569
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Business General
• Index: Business

The Review of Maritime Transport is an UNCTAD flagship publication, published annually since 1968. Around 80 per cent of the volume of international trade in goods is carried by sea, and the percentage is even higher for most developing countries. The Review of Maritime Transport provides an analysis of structural and cyclical changes affecting seaborne trade, ports and shipping, as well as an extensive collection of statistical information. The report calls for a "just and equitable transition" to a decarbonized shipping industry. The sector, whose greenhouse gas emissions have risen 20% over the last decade, operates an ageing fleet that runs almost exclusively on fossil fuels. As global leaders prepare for the next UN climate conference (COP28), UNCTAD advocates for system-wide collaboration, swift regulatory intervention and stronger investments in green technologies and fleets. Full decarbonization by 2050 will require massive investments and could lead to higher maritime logistics costs, raising concerns for vulnerable shipping-reliant nations like small island developing states. The report emphasizes the need to balance environmental goals with economic needs but underscores that the cost of inaction far outweighs the required investments. The report recommends policy actions to overcome supply chain hurdles African countries face, including poor logistics, low levels of technology, fragmented markets, limited capital sources, and weak institutions and regulations. Beyond cleaner fuels, the industry needs to move faster towards digital solutions like AI and blockchain to improve efficiency as well as sustainability. In its analysis of global maritime trends, the report highlights shipping's resilience despite major challenges stemming from global crises, such as the war in Ukraine. Maritime trade is expected to grow 2.4% in 2023 and more than 3% between 2024 and 2028.

Table of contents

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• ABBREVIATIONS
• NOTE
• FOREWORD
• OVERVIEW
• INTERNATIONAL MARITIME TRADE
• WORLD SHIPPING FLEET, SERVICES, AND FREIGHT RATES
• DECARBONIZING SHIPPING
• PORT PERFORMANCE AND MARITIME TRADE AND TRANSPORT FACILITATION
• LEGAL ISSUES AND REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
• Box 1.1 Persistent challenges impeding global economic growth and trade in 2022 and 2023
• Box 1.2 Seaborne containerized trade performs differently across sub-regions
• Box 1.3 The Black Sea Initiative contribution to grain trade amid the war in Ukraine and its discontinuation
• Box 1.4 The impact of the AfCFTA on the demand for transport infrastructure and services
• Box 3.1 Port of Antwerp-Bruges aims to become a green energy hub and climate neutral by 2050
• Box 3.2 The Port of Las Palmas shows commitment to environmental sustainability
• Box 3.3 Promoting low- and zero-emissions shipping in Asia and the Pacific
• Box 4.1 Container port efficiency in the Arab region
• Box 4.2 Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units
• Box 4.3 Digital transformation and scorecards – the Port Authority of Valencia
• Figure 1 Seaborne trade growth, tons and ton-miles, 2000–2024 (Annual percentage change)
• Figure 2 Number of port calls per half year, world total, 2018–2022
• Figure 3 Average distance travelled, grain, other dry bulk, container and oil cargo, 1999–2024, (Nautical miles)
• Figure 4 The world fleet, 1980–2023 (Thousand dead weight tonns and annual percentage change)
• Figure 5 Shanghai Containerized Freight Index, monthly spot rates, June 2018–June 2023, selected routes
• Figure 6 Minutes per container move, by range of call size, top 5 countries by port calls
• Figure 7 Average waiting times of container ships at port in hours, monthly, January 2016–July 2023
• Figure 8 Carbon dioxide emissions, tons, by main flags of registration, 2012 and 2022
• Figure 9 Carbon dioxide emissions, tons, by main economies of ownership, 2012 and 2022
• Figure 10 Carbon dioxide emissions by main vessel types, tons, January 2012–March 2023
• Figure 1.1 International maritime trade, 2003–2024 (Million tons loaded)
• Figure 1.2 Seaborne trade growth, tons and ton-miles, 2000–2024 (Annual percentage change)
• Figure 1.3 Distance travelled per ton of maritime cargo, 1999–2024 (Nautical miles)
• Figure 1.4 Crude oil and refined oil products seaborne trade growth, tons and ton-miles, 2003–2024 (Annual percentage change)
• Figure 1.5 Coal seaborne trade growth, tons and ton-miles, 2003–2024 (Annual percentage change)
• Figure 1.6 Global containerized trade, 1996–2023 (Million 20-foot equivalent units and percentage annual change)
• Figure 1.7 Percentage share of different cargo types in total seaborne trade, 2002–2024 (Metric tons)
• Figure 1.8 Gas seaborne trade growth, tons and ton-miles (Percentage annual change)
• Figure 2.1 The world fleet, thousand dead weight tons and percentage change, 1980–2023 (Percentage annual change)
• Figure 2.2 World tonnage on order, million dead weight tons and percentage change, 2005–2023
• Figure 2.3 Fleet capacity of the top 10 liner operators, percentage share, Q2 2023 and Q2 2006
• Figure 2.4 Scheduled capacity of leading liner operators, percentage share, Q2 2019 and Q2 2023
• Figure 2.5 Capacity offered alone or as part of consortium by leading liner operators, percentage share, Q2 2019 and Q2 2023
• Figure 2.6 Growth of demand and supply in container shipping, percentage change, 2007–2023
• Figure 2.7 Shanghai Containerized Freight Index monthly spot rates, selected routes, June 2018–June 2023
• Figure 2.8 New ConTex index, June 2018–June 2023
• Figure 2.9 Baltic Exchange Dry Index, June 2019–June 2023
• Figure 2.10 Dry bulk average weighted earnings all bulkers, Capesize, and Panamax ($/day), 2018–2023
• Figure 2.11 Baltic Dirty Tanker Index and the Baltic Exchange Clean Tanker Index, May 2018–May 2023
• Figure 2.12 Average earnings, selected tankers, $ per day, May 2018–May 2023
• Figure 3.1 Total carbon dioxide emissions by vessel types, tons, January 2012—March 2023
• Figure 3.2 World fleet, three main vessel types, monthly carbon dioxide emissions per ton-mile, January 2012—March 2023 (Gram/ton*nautical mile)
• Figure 3.3 Carbon dioxide emissions by main flags of registration, tons, 2012 and 2022
• Figure 3.4 Carbon dioxide emissions by main economies of ownership, tons, 2012 and 2022
• Figure 3.5 Percentage of vessels with Carbon Intensity Indicator ratings, A, B or C – with z—factor for 2022 and 2026
• Figure 3.6 Assessing the impacts of increased maritime logistics costs, percentage change
• Figure 3.7 Alternative fuel uptake, world active fleet and orderbook, number of vessels, 2022
• Figure 3.8 Alternative fuel uptake, world active fleet and orderbook in gross tons, 2022
• Figure 3.9 Trends in alternative fuels capable and energy saving technology fitted fleet, percentage of the orderbook and gross tons, 2005—2023
• Figure 4.1 Port calls per half year, world total, 2018–2022
• Figure 4.2 Container throughput, million 20-foot equivalent units, 2016–2024
• Figure 4.3 Liner shipping connectivity index, world and regional average, 2006 Q1–2023 Q2
• Figure 4.4 Liner shipping connectivity index, selected countries and groupings averages, 2006 Q1–2023 Q2
• Figure 4.5 Number of operators and largest ships, average per country, 2006 Q1–2023 Q2
• Figure 4.6 Average number of operators, regional average, 2006 Q1–2023 Q2
• Figure 4.7 Number of active container ports, world total, 2006 Q1–2023 Q2
• Figure 4.8 Number of active container ports, regional totals, 2006 Q1–2023 Q2
• Figure 4.9 Container Port Performance Index values 2022, ports’ regional distributions
• Figure 4.10 Time in port, world median, in days, 2018 S1–2022 S2
• Figure 4.11 Average waiting times of container ships at port in hours, monthly, January 2016–July 2023
• Figure 4.12 Per cent of fleet capacity at anchorage or in the port, by vessel type, January 2016–April 2023
• Figure 4.13 Country Container Port Performance Index values 2022 by implementation status of selected measures under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement
• Figure 4.14 Selected port performance indicators, median value across all port members of the TrainForTrade Port Management programme, 2016–2022
• Figure 4.15 Cruise and ferry passenger, median value across all ports, 2016–2022
• Figure 4.16 Port authority revenue profile, median share of concession and property dues, members of the TrainForTrade Port Ma agement Programme, 2016–2022
• Figure 4.17 Women’s participation in port workforces, median across all ports, 2016–2022
• Table 1 Seaborne trade forecast, 2024–2028 (Annual percentage change)
• Table 1.1 International maritime trade development forecast, 2024–2028 (Annual percentage change)
• Table 1.2 Containerized trade on major East—West trade routes, 2014–2022 (Million 20-foot equivalent units and percentage an ual change)
• Table 1.3 Global containerized trade by route, 2020–2022 (Market shares in percentages)
• Table 1.4 Containerized trade on main East—West and other containerized trade routes, 2015–2022 (20-foot equivalent units and percentage annual change)
• Table 1.5 Major seaborne exporters and importers of oil, oil products, coal and liquefied natural gas, top ranking in terms of share of global trade volumes and of annual percentage changes
• Table 1.6 Major grain seaborne exporters and importers 2022 and 2023, top ranking in terms of share of global trade volumes and of annual percentage changes
• Table 2.1 World fleet by vessel type, thousand dead weight tons, 2022–2023
• Table 2.2 Deliveries of newbuilt vessels by type and building country, thousands of gross tons, 2022
• Table 2.3 Age of world merchant fleet, by vessel type and flag of registration, years and dead weight tons, 2022 and 2023
• Table 2.4 Leading flags of registration by dead weight tons, 2022
• Table 2.5 Ownership of the world fleet, by carrying capacity, national- and foreign-flagged fleet, dead weight tons, 2022
• Table 2.6 Ship owning countries and flags of registration by value, 1 January 2023
• Table 2.7 Reported tonnage sold for ship recycling by major vessel type and recycling country, thousands of gross tons, 2022
• Table 2.8 Container carrying capacity deployed by new operators who entered the market, percentage share, Q2 2020 and Q2 2023
• Table 2.9 Fleet capacity of the top 10 liner operators, 20-foot equivalent unit capacity and percentage change, Q2 of 2006 and Q2 of 2023
• Table 2.10 Number of ports where carriers offer the highest level of capacity, 2019 and 2023
• Table 2.11 Top three liner operators' presence in selected world port terminals, 2021
• Table 2.12 Annual Full Container Load Gate-in/Gate-out rates, in $/40-foot equivalent unit 2018–2022
• Table 3.1 Selected voluntary initiatives for decarbonizing shipping
• Table 3.2 Overview of alternative fuels and their production pathways
• Table 4.1 Top 25 ports under the Container Port Performance Index 2022
• Table 4.2 Minutes per container move, 2022, by range of call size, top 25 countries by port calls
• Table 4.3 Cargo and vessel handling performance for dry bulk carriers, top 30 economies by vessel arrivals, average values fo the first four months of 2023 and changes from 2022
• Table 4.4 Cargo and vessel handling performance for tankers, top 30 economies by vessel arrivals, average values for the firs four months of 2023 and changes from 2022
• Table 4.5 Port Performance Scorecard, 2016–2022