Launch of the Review of Maritime Transport 2025

[Video message]

Excellencies, colleagues, friends,

I am proud to launch the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Review of Maritime Transport 2025.

UNCTAD’s highly anticipated annual analysis of global shipping provides critical insights of the key challenges facing maritime transport worldwide.

Maritime transport stands at a turning point, forced to transition to a sustainable, resilient and digital future while navigating an increasingly unpredictable landscape – shaped by geopolitical tensions and geoeconomic fragmentation.

Sustainability, resilience and agility are no longer an option.

For the first time in decades, we see prolonged disruption to the ocean highways of global trade. Ships that crossed the Red Sea in days now sail for weeks around the Cape of Good Hope. Prices rise constantly, shipping costs are unpredictable and supply chains aren't as reliable as we thought.

This affects everyone but especially developing countries, small island states and landlocked economies.

A container rerouted thousands of miles raises costs for a farmer trying to export. A delay in a key shipping lane makes food more expensive for families already struggling.

It is clear that maritime trade needs to prepare for disruption and uncertainty.

There is a need to leverage maritime logistics for equitable integration and transformation. Developing countries’ participation in reconfigured trade routes depends on modern, connected and resilient maritime logistics systems.

Ports must improve by measuring performance to track efficiency, connectivity, sustainability, and resilience – ensuring trade flows remain smooth and inclusive.

UNCTAD stands ready to support this shift – through research, technical cooperation and dialogue.

And next year, at our Global Supply Chain Forum 2026 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, governments, industry and partners will come together to design solutions that keep trade flowing and make supply chains more resilient, sustainable and inclusive.

Tomorrow is World Maritime Day and an opportunity to underline that maritime trade carries more than 80% of global trade and that maritime trade is today subject to unprecedented stress.

The Review of Maritime Transport 2025 shines a light on the way forward.

By working together, we can build a maritime transport system that is prepared, adaptive and sustainable – ready for the challenges of tomorrow.

Thank you.