The UN Security Council has sounded an urgent warning over rising threats to global maritime safety, including growing incidents of piracy and armed robbery reported in 2024. Council members emphasized that secure shipping lanes are vital for economic stability and development.

Global oil supply growth is significantly outpacing demand expansion, setting the stage for a widening market imbalance. Analysts warn of further oversupply through 2026, even amid elevated inventories and shifting OPEC+ policies.

China’s ongoing property-market downturn is reducing appetite for construction commodities, and shipbrokers warn this trend will suppress demand for dry bulk carriers. Market analysts anticipate a prolonged lull in iron ore and cement shipping unless major stimulus emerges.

A Houthi assault on the Greek-operated bulk carrier Eternity C in the Red Sea resulted in four crew deaths and multiple missing, marking one of the most lethal recent maritime attacks. Insurers have sharply increased premiums, and shipping routes remain highly disruptive.

U.S. seaborne grain exports rose 9% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, driven by maize shipments to new markets. This growth occurred even as exports to China dropped sharply due to retaliatory tariffs.

Shipping firms are on edge as the U.S. considers military action amid the Israel–Iran conflict. War-risk insurance premiums have nearly tripled, prompting rerouting and heightened caution across key maritime corridors.