India is making a serious play for a bigger role in global shipping — from a proposed US$1.2b push into container manufacturing to a major EU trade deal that could reshape flows over the next decade.

New IMO rules are now in force, spanning safety, fuels, navigation, and crew requirements. Among them is a key update: mandatory reporting of containers lost overboard, ensuring faster hazard alerts and better data to prevent future incidents.

Linerlytica reports that 2025 global volumes exceeded one billion TEU, with China and Hong Kong handling around 400 million TEU. With fleet capacity now above 33 million TEU and MSC adding 830,000 TEU in 2025 alone, the key question heading into 2026 is how the industry maintains supply–demand balance.

Shanghai’s strong TEU growth in 2025 highlights how container networks continue to rely on a small number of critical hub ports. Heading into 2026, reassessing port dependence and alternative routings is becoming just as important as diversifying manufacturing.

Linerlytica reports 5.08m TEU of new container ship orders in 2025, surpassing previous peaks. BIMCO warns the orderbook now equals 33% of the existing fleet, while others argue the wave reflects investment in adaptability as trade routes and regulations grow more complex.

UNCTAD’s latest update points to 7% global trade growth in 2025, led by East Asia and strong South–South trade. With services rising and manufacturing still driving momentum, the outlook for 2026 is steady demand — but tighter margins as costs and debt pressures build.