IMEA Maersk Market Update – September 2026

 Summary: Market conditions across IMEA continue to influence transport planning, with developments in the Middle East, seasonal export preparations and changing air and inland capacity all shaping supply chain decisions. This month’s update highlights key ocean, landside and air freight trends, alongside logistics services that can help businesses improve visibility, plan inventory and manage delivery commitments. 

Executive summary

The ongoing situation in the Middle East continues to influence shipping services, cargo acceptance and routing options across impacted trade routes. As businesses prepare for seasonal exports and fourth-quarter demand, aligning delivery commitments with available transport capacity remains an important planning priority. Across Africa, preparations for cocoa, mango and grape exports are highlighting the importance of container availability, shipment timing and early forecasting. Inland conditions vary by market: elevated cargo flows at Saudi ports are influencing onward deliveries; UAE bonded export capabilities are expanding transport options; and regional trade continues to support demand for East African inland connections. In South Africa, port and rail improvements remain uneven and require continued planning flexibility.

Demand for air freight across the Indian subcontinent and the UAE continues to be driven by manufacturing, retail and perishable goods, while restrictions on affected airline routes are limiting available space and connections. Maersk Visibility Studio offers a consolidated view of shipments across carriers and transport modes to help customers identify cargo requiring attention.

Customers are encouraged to share shipment forecasts and delivery priorities with Maersk as early as possible, in order review available services, assess shipment-specific options and adjust plans as conditions evolve.

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Ocean update

Ocean: preparing for seasonal exports

The ongoing Middle East situation continues to influence ocean services, cargo acceptance and routing on connected trade lanes. At the same time, upcoming agricultural export seasons across Africa are increasing the importance of aligning container requirements and vessel bookings with production schedules and delivery commitments.

Maersk is assessing available transport options as conditions develop. Customers shipping to, from or through affected markets should refer to the latest Middle East operational updates for booking and routing requirements.

West and Central Africa: cocoa-season preparations

Cocoa exporters in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria are preparing for the 2026/27 season, with initial shipments expected from October. Food-grade 20-foot containers are a priority, with Maersk developing supply plans across Abidjan, San Pedro, Ghana and Cameroon.

The International Cocoa Organization has highlighted weather-related production risks, including concerns about a potential El Niño event later in 2026. Exporters should update shipment forecasts as crop and purchasing plans develop, helping teams align suitable containers, inland collection and vessel departures.

East Africa: mango preparations and pulses exports

Avocado exports are winding down as preparations begin for mango shipments from October, with volumes increasing through November. Early order confirmation will help exporters align harvesting, packing and transport requirements.

Tanzania’s pulses exports are gathering pace after a slower start in August, concentrating more shipments into the peak export window. Demand for tea, coffee, animal fodder and garments remains stable.

Maersk is coordinating container availability and ocean bookings for seasonal flows. Customers should identify fixed delivery deadlines early, particularly where Middle East network changes affect onward connections.

South Africa: grape-season planning

As the citrus season concludes, preparations are underway for grape exports beginning in early November. Maersk plans to begin contracting discussions in the coming weeks, aligning expected volumes, refrigerated container requirements and shipment schedules.

Sharing packing dates and destination requirements early will help teams assess suitable services ahead of the seasonal increase in volumes.

Outlook

Cocoa, mango, pulses and grape exports will shape demand for containers and vessel space over the coming months. Exporters should review shipment plans as harvests and orders develop, aligning delivery commitments with available transport arrangements.

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Maritime India engine comes alive: Ship leasing, sustainability push, and more Union Minister Sar... Read more at: https://www.theweek.in/news/maritime/2026/09/12/india-maritime-updates-september.html

September so far has seen some major updates in the maritime sector, as the Centre doubles down on M...

Read more at: https://www.theweek.in/news/maritime/2026/09/12/india-maritime-updates-september.html

India Becomes World's Second-Largest Supplier of Seafarers

 

India has become the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers to the global merchant navy, contributing 3,11,936 maritime professionals and accounting for 12.16% of the global seafaring workforce. The findings come from the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, jointly released by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). India now ranks behind only the Philippines, moving ahead of China, Russia, and Indonesia. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal welcomed the report and credited the milestone to over a decade of maritime reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India's Rise from 5th Place (2015) to World's 2nd-Largest Seafarer Pool (2026)

India's climb has been steady but accelerated sharply in recent years. 

1. In 2015, the country ranked fifth globally with just a 5.2% share of the world's seafarers, behind China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Russia. 
2. By 2021, its share had inched up to 6%, still in fifth position.
3. The 2026 report marks a decisive breakthrough, with India's global share more than doubling to 12.16%, propelling it to second place worldwide. 

Sonowal called it "a story of vision, resolve, and transformative leadership," attributing the turnaround to sustained investment in maritime education, training infrastructure, and digital governance under PM Modi's leadership over the past twelve years.

India Now Contributes 12.16% of the Global Maritime Workforce

The report estimates global seafarer supply at 2.57 million against a demand of 2.55 million, pointing to a tight labour market and a persistent shortage of qualified officers worldwide. This gap positions India as a key manpower partner for the global shipping industry in the years ahead.

Indian Officers Constitute 13.41% of the World's Officer Workforce

India's strength is most visible at the officer level, where it supplies 1,40,718 officers, or 13.41% of the world's officer workforce, handling navigation, command, and engineering roles. Additionally, 1,71,218 Indian ratings make up 11.29% of the global ratings workforce, covering deck and engine-support duties. Together, these figures reflect one of the largest and most skilled maritime workforces supporting global trade today.

This growth has been underpinned by full digitisation of seafarer certification through the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), stronger compliance with international STCW standards, expanded training institute capacity, and a sweeping legislative overhaul between 2021 and 2025, including the Merchant Shipping Act 2025, Indian Ports Act 2025, Coastal Shipping Act 2025, Bills of Lading Act 2025, and Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 2025.

Mission 20% Aims to Make One in Every Five Global Seafarers an Indian

The government has now set its sights on Mission 20%, aiming to raise India's global seafarer share from 12.16% to 20%. Sonowal said the plan involves expanding maritime training capacity, increasing shipboard training opportunities, deepening industry-academia partnerships, and creating more career pathways for young Indians, particularly women, to join the maritime sector. The mission is aligned with the broader Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. 

Government looks at expanding use of steel from ship recycling

 

A joint meeting was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Steel and Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, on expanding the usage of steel obtained from recycling of ships. 

"The discussions were held focusing on expanding the application of recycled ship steel to additional sectors, with a view to enhancing value generation from ship recycling and reinforcing India’s position as the world’s leading ship recycling hub," an official statement said.

The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), and the Ship Recycling Industries Association (SRIA), to examine the existing regulatory framework and explore avenues for usage of secondary steel obtained from ship recycling.

The meeting underscored the government’s commitment to promote circular economy practices, support domestic steel manufacturing, and ensure that India’s ship recycling industry continues to set global benchmarks in sustainability and efficiency, the statement said.

Ship recycling holds strategic importance for India across environmental, economic, and industrial dimensions.

From a resource perspective, ship recycling contributes significantly to domestic availability of ferrous scrap, reducing dependence on imported raw materials and strengthening supply security for steel and allied industries. Recycled steel requires substantially lower energy compared to primary steel production and results in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, directly supporting India’s sustainability and decarbonisation objectives.

Economically, the sector generates large-scale employment and sustains a wide ecosystem of ancillary industries including transport, re-rolling mills, equipment suppliers and waste management services. Ship recycling also complements national initiatives such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat by linking end-of-life ship management with domestic manufacturing and industrial growth.

Environmentally, regulated ship recycling prevents unsafe disposal of end-of-life ships, mitigates marine and coastal pollution risks and ensures responsible handling of hazardous materials under strict regulatory supervision.

India is among the leading ship recycling nations globally. The Alang-Sosiya ship recycling cluster in Gujarat forms the backbone of the country’s recycling capacity and is the largest ship recycling hub in the world. The cluster accounts for approximately 97 per cent of India’s ship recycling activity, making it the central pillar of the national ship recycling ecosystem.

India plans 62 new vessels with Rs 51,383 crore investment to boost Atmanirbhar shipping: Sarbananda Sonowal

 

India is set to significantly expand its maritime capacity with plans to add 62 vessels in FY 2026–27, backed by an investment of ₹51,383 crore, as part of a broader push towards self-reliance in the shipping sector, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Wednesday.

Chairing a high-level inter-ministerial review meeting amid evolving developments in the Strait of Hormuz region, Sonowal outlined a roadmap to increase India’s shipping capacity by 2.85 million gross tonnage (GT) in the current fiscal, aimed at strengthening the country’s resilience against global supply chain disruptions.

The meeting brought together senior officials from key ministries, including Petroleum and Natural Gas, Chemicals and Fertilisers, and Commerce and Industry, along with oil public sector undertakings, the Directorate General of Shipping, the National Shipping Board, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Highlighting the strategic importance of maritime strength, Sonowal said the government is positioning shipping as a core pillar of India’s economic resilience. “Our journey towards Atmanirbhar shipping is a strategic necessity,” he said, stressing the need for urgent expansion of fleet capacity across segments such as container ships, LPG carriers, crude oil tankers, dredging vessels, and green tugs.

The minister also reviewed cargo flows, vessel movements, and operational preparedness across maritime sectors, underlining the importance of scaling up shipbuilding capabilities and port infrastructure to meet future challenges. He noted progress on a proposed joint venture between the Shipping Corporation of India and oil PSUs to acquire 59 vessels.

In a significant policy move, Sonowal directed officials to prepare a comprehensive white paper identifying gaps in the maritime sector, setting clear targets, and outlining a time-bound roadmap. The document will be developed through close coordination among multiple ministries and is expected to guide future policy decisions.

The minister also highlighted emerging opportunities in specialised shipping, stating that the Shipping Corporation of India is being equipped to build vessels capable of transporting ammonia, a key component in the evolving green energy ecosystem.

Emphasising safety, Sonowal reiterated that the security of Indian seafarers remains a top priority, directing agencies to maintain heightened vigilance in sensitive maritime zones.

The meeting concluded with a call for stronger inter-ministerial coordination and faster execution of plans to build a future-ready maritime ecosystem, as the government continues to monitor global developments while advancing long-term strategies to strengthen India’s position in global trade.

India eyes global hub status in ship ownership, leasing and maritime finance: Sarbananda Sonowal

 

India is charting a course to emerge as a global hub for ship ownership, leasing and maritime finance, with GIFT City in Gujarat positioned as a key platform for building a comprehensive maritime financial ecosystem, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday.

Addressing the India Ship Leasing and Financing Summit at GIFT City, organised by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sonowal said the country was moving towards an integrated maritime ecosystem covering ship leasing, ownership, financing, insurance, brokering and related services.

GIFT City emerging as maritime finance hub

Sonowal highlighted India’s long maritime history, tracing it to the Indus Valley Civilisation and the ancient port of Lothal in Gujarat.

He said GIFT City was now poised to become a global maritime hub and a launchpad for the next phase of India’s maritime growth.

India currently has 38 registered ship lessors, collectively leasing 43 vessels, with total leasing capacity exceeding 2.99 million DWT. Of these, 24 vessels fly the Indian flag.

The Minister also said 41 domestic and international banks have established operations in the IFSC and have extended nearly USD 60.1 million in funding to ship-leasing entities. The opening of the Directorate General of Merchant Shipping’s (DGMS) first regional office in GIFT City is expected to further strengthen the ecosystem for shipowners and operators.

Reforms to boost vessel ownership

Sonowal outlined key reforms aimed at making India’s shipping sector more competitive globally.

These include exemption from licensing requirements under the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, for foreign vessels operating on charter, as well as permission for shipping companies based in GIFT IFSC to own foreign-flag vessels.

He said the latter represented a shift in measuring India’s fleet—from vessels flying the Indian flag to the overall tonnage that Indian entities own and control.

₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund

The Minister highlighted the government’s financial support for the maritime sector, including the ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund, which is expected to catalyse investments of up to ₹1.5 lakh crore by 2030.

He also cited the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) 2.0, with a revised outlay of ₹24,736 crore extended to 2036, aimed at strengthening Indian shipyards and supporting vessel ownership.

Sonowal said these measures are aligned with the Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047, which seek to expand India’s fleet, strengthen port capacity and coastal shipping and position India among the world’s top five shipbuilding nations.

India’s growing maritime footprint

The Minister also highlighted India’s position as the world’s largest ship recycling nation. India’s share of global ship recycling tonnage increased from 30.1% in 2024 to 35.4% in 2025, he said.

The summit brought together policymakers, shipowners, lessors, charterers, financiers and other maritime stakeholders to discuss measures for developing a comprehensive ship ownership, leasing and financing ecosystem in India.

MoPSW Secretary Vijay Kumar, IFSCA Chairperson K. Rajaraman and Gujarat Ports and Transport Principal Secretary Hareet Shukla were among those present.

Australia’s First Offshore Wind Energy Auction is Now Live

 

After delays and uncertainty among the developers, Australia has finally opened its first offshore wind energy auction. It has been a slow process for the country to move its offshore energy aspirations forward to catch up with its overall leadership in renewable energy.

The first auction is coming from Australia’s Victoria state in the southeast of the country and home to the city of Melbourne. Officials point out that renewables account for 45 percent of the state's total electricity generation currently. 

Plans call for retiring Australia’s aging coal-fired generation capacity. However, demand is also growing, meaning the state must develop new sources.  

In late 2021, Australia set forth the framework for its offshore wind energy industry, and a year later, the first wind zones were declared for the Gippsland area in Victoria. Reports said it could support as much as 10 GW of generation capacity, and Australia followed with the awarding of feasibility licenses. By 2024, it had awarded a dozen feasibility licenses, with several of the major developers actively exploring projects. Three companies, including RWE and Equinor, later relinquished their licenses. Plans for the Victoria auction were further delayed from last year as the industry continued to address the issues and sought more assurances from the Australian government.

“This auction is a giant leap towards getting Australia’s first offshore wind projects built,” said Minister for Energy and Resources Jaclyn Symes. “Victoria has some of the best offshore wind resources in the world. This auction is about harnessing that advantage and building the next generation of energy right here in Victoria.”

The auction officially opened on August 26, but the window runs for a year to August 2027. Victoria reports that the contracts will be awarded in 2028. It expects the projects to be integrated into the National Electricity Services Entry Mechanism.

According to the minister, bids will be assessed based on value for money, deliverability, and benefits for local workers, businesses, and communities.

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