DP World has explored the impacts of global disruptions on maritime trade in a report published on the occasion of World Maritime Day 2026. Over 80 percent of the world's goods trade by volume is transported by sea, and transport networks that move approximately $14 trillion worth of goods are under pressure from geopolitical tensions, climate change, and new trade policies.
Need for Connected Trade Corridors
With increasing pressures on established transport routes, businesses need more options for moving cargo between markets. These changes have created an increasing role for short-term transport solutions, coastal, and feeder services that connect emerging production centers and regional ports to major international trade corridors. These services have also been integrated with rail, road, and maritime networks to assist businesses in choosing alternative routes.
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Transformations in Global Production Patterns
Research indicates that global trade is reorganizing rather than reversing. According to DP World's Global Trade Observatory in 2026, 94 percent of over 3,500 supply chain and logistics managers expect trade growth in 2026 to match or exceed the levels of 2025. Greg Stanton, Chief Operating Officer of DP World’s Maritime Services, stated, "Agility and adaptability in maritime trade have become essential for business trust and growth."
The report also shows that other disruptions are not periodic, and tariffs and the redistribution of production are creating structural changes in how cargo is moved globally. Production patterns are also rapidly changing, with countries like India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa playing larger roles in global production.
In light of these developments, the exports of countries are increasing, and it is projected that the exports of developing countries will rise from $500 billion in 1995 to $8.8 trillion by 2025.
DP World's maritime service network, connecting over 200 ports in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, enables businesses to access more transportation options using over 500 vessels.
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