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European shipbuilders reported a surge in new contracts during the first weeks of 2026, driven by stringent environmental regulations forcing fleet renewals and growing demand for specialised vessels capable of alternative fuel propulsion. Italian shipyard Fincantieri announced a €2.4 billion order book for the year, including contracts for six methanol-ready container ships and four ammonia-powered bulk carriers. The deals mark a significant reversal for Europe's shipbuildin

The continent's shipping industry entered 2026 confronting a significantly more expensive operating environment, as the European Union's Emissions Trading System completed its phase-in, requiring carriers to purchase carbon allowances for the full scale of their emissions. From 1 January, shipping companies calling at EU and European Economic Area ports must surrender allowances covering 100 per cent of verified carbon dioxide emissions, marking the culmination of a gradual i

Container shipping operators begin 2026 confronting a structural oversupply crisis that threatens to persist until the decade's end, with vessel order books swelling to unprecedented levels even as demand growth falters and carriers prepare for potential Red Sea route normalization. The global fleet now carries an order backlog equivalent to more than 30 per cent of active capacity, totalling approximately 9.6 million twenty-foot equivalent units according to maritime analyst

European shipping operations entered the final week of 2025 confronting a delicate balancing act: rising spot rates driven by pre-Lunar New Year demand colliding with mounting regulatory costs as the bloc's emissions trading regime intensifies. Container rates from Asia to Northern Europe climbed to $2,361 per forty-foot equivalent unit last week, up 16 per cent month-on-month according to Drewry, whilst Mediterranean routes surged 13 per cent to $3,004. The seasonal uptick r

Freight rates on key Asia-Europe shipping routes have climbed sharply in December, with spot rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam rising above $5,000 per forty-foot container—more than double pre-disruption levels—as carriers continue to avoid the Red Sea corridor. The sustained rerouting around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, necessitated by ongoing Houthi attacks in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, is forcing European importers to absorb significantly higher costs heading into the new yea

European maritime operators find themselves navigating treacherous waters as the sector confronts a volatile cocktail of regulatory pressure, geopolitical disruption and unprecedented Asian expansion that threatens to reshape the competitive landscape. China's state-owned COSCO has thrown down the gauntlet with an $7.1 billion order for 87 vessels—the largest domestic shipbuilding contract in Chinese history. The December deal with China State Shipbuilding Corporation spans u

Germany's Hartmann Group has partnered with Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe to develop a methanol-powered cement carrier, marking another milestone in European shipping's accelerating transition toward alternative fuels. The vessel, scheduled to enter service in early 2028, will slash CO₂ emissions by approximately 80 percent compared with conventional fossil-fueled ships operating along the Norwegian coast. The project reflects broader momentum across European maritime

European vessel operators are navigating a costly new regulatory landscape as the FuelEU Maritime regulation enters full force, compounding pressures from persistent Red Sea disruptions and tight capacity across global routes. The regulation, part of the EU's Fit for 55 package, mandates a 2 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas intensity for ships calling at European ports, rising to 80 per cent by 2050. Industry executives expect emission surcharges in 2025 to nearly double

The delivery of Northern Phoenix from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co in China adds fresh momentum to the continent’s rapidly forming CO₂ shipping network. For industry professionals watching the build out of carbon transport corridors in real time, this vessel is more than a fleet expansion. It is a marker of how quickly commercial scale carbon capture and storage is shifting from promise to practice. Northern Lights confirmed that Northern Phoenix is now en route from Dalia

Container spot rates on Asia-Europe trades demonstrated unexpected resilience entering December as carriers successfully defended pricing despite a false alarm over Suez Canal resumptions, whilst transpacific routes continued their protracted descent toward multi-year lows. Freight operators implemented rate increases ranging from $3,100 to $4,000 per forty-foot container effective 1 December, strategically timed ahead of annual contract negotiations. The moves came as Belgia

As 2025 draws to a close, Europe’s maritime shipping industry is confronting a challenging mix of weak demand, falling freight rates, and structural overcapacity — a situation that could reshape trade flows and pressure logistics providers across the continent. Major players in container shipping, including CMA CGM of France, have flagged a “tough year ahead,” warning that capacity added through newly ordered vessels is colliding with slackening global trade. Across the Atlan

Container shipping rates extended downward trajectory through late November as carriers confronted persistent overcapacity overwhelming demand across major trade lanes. Composite price indices reflected continued deterioration, with rates declining 5% between first and second weeks of November, undermining carrier attempts implementing General Rate Increases and elevated Freight All Kinds rates ahead of annual contract negotiations. Transpacific routes demonstrated particular