International
Maritime transport: Global shipowners warn of rising logistics costs
The Director-General of the WTO recalled that maritime transport accounts for more than 80% of global trade by volume and called for strengthened cooperation between governments and the private sector.
Major global players in maritime transport have warned the World Trade Organization (WTO) of rising costs and significant pressure on logistics capacity amid ongoing disruptions to global trade.
During a meeting on Thursday in Geneva with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala, representatives of major industry groups indicated that, despite the resilience of global supply chains, the search for and use of alternative routes in response to disruptions—particularly in the Gulf region and in several congestion zones—are leading to a noticeable increase in costs for carriers, which are ultimately passed on to consumers.
Industry representatives also highlighted tightening capacity across transport networks, noting that alternative land-based solutions and certain ports are already saturated. One executive present pointed out that it takes around 70 freight trains to match the capacity of a single container ship, according to a statement released by the organisation.
Participants also identified operational bottlenecks, particularly customs delays linked to multimodal logistics and the use of alternative corridors.
According to them, these constraints, combined with rising costs and uncertainty over trade routes, reinforce the need to invest in port and logistics infrastructure in order to maintain efficient and predictable trade flows.
Sector leaders also stressed the importance of complying with standards and multilateral agreements, including the principle of freedom of navigation.
Ms Okonjo‑Iweala recalled that maritime transport accounts for more than 80% of global trade by volume and called for strengthened cooperation between governments and the private sector.
Referring to concerns about customs delays, she urged the full implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, as well as the digitalisation of customs procedures, rapid information sharing, and a measured use of trade restrictions to support the resilience and stability of supply chains.
Representatives from major companies and organisations attended the meeting, including MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping, Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Evergreen Marine Corp., Yang Ming, and China Merchants Energy Shipping, as well as officials from the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), and the World Shipping Council.
