Year-end review, review of the top ten hot events in the shipping industry in 2025!
- Author:weiyun.com
- Source:weiyun.com
- Release Date:2026-01-05
In 2025, the shipping industry has completed "self-reshaping" again and again in the process of change. The road ahead may be bumpy, but the pace will not stop.
Weiyun.com has specially compiled this year’s landmark shipping hot events to review together!
01The shipping alliance pattern is reshaped and the “Gemini Alliance” is born
In February, the global shipping industry ushered in a major alliance reorganization. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd officially announced the establishment of the "Gemini Alliance" and put it into operation, marking the reshaping of the global shipping alliance pattern.
Previously, Maersk withdrew from the "2M Alliance" formed with Mediterranean Shipping Company, and Hapag-Lloyd also withdrew from the "THE Alliance". The two giants joined forces to become the world's leading shipping alliance.
The reorganization of alliances has promoted the global shipping market to form a new pattern of "Gemini", "Ocean Alliance", "Premier Alliance" and Mediterranean Shipping's "Four-Party Competition for Hegemony", which will have a significant impact on subsequent route layout and freight rate trends.
02 Red Sea crisis escalates, shipping companies collectively detour around the Cape of Good Hope
In March, the Houthi armed forces launched missile attacks on merchant ships and warships in the Red Sea, causing shipping security in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to continue to deteriorate.
Global mainstream container shipping companies such as Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company, and COSCO Shipping Lines took the lead in issuing announcements to suspend the Suez Canal route and collectively diverted around the Cape of Good Hope.
In November, as the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect, the Houthis officially announced a ceasefire, and the shipping security situation in the Red Sea initially eased.However, major shipping companies did not immediately fully resume the Suez Canal route and only launched exploratory navigation.
03The United States promotes maritime hegemony plan and shipping companies compete for domestic shipbuilding orders in the United States
In April, President Trump signed the "Reinvigorating U.S. Maritime Supremacy" executive order, which included commercial container ship manufacturing and port upgrades as national security priorities and launched an order subsidy policy.
Affected by this, the Philadelphia Shipyard acquired by South Korea's Hanwha Group launched a US$5 billion expansion plan and won the largest commercial shipbuilding order in the United States in 20 years, including 10 large container ships and 2 LNG-powered container ships.Shipping companies such as Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have expressed their intention to cooperate, hoping to obtain dividends from the US route policy through local shipbuilding orders.
04China-US routes are affected by multiple crises, shipping companies are trapped in "liquidation" and freight rates are turbulent
In May, China-U.S. container routes encountered a "liquidation" crisis, and a large amount of Chinese export container cargo was backlogged in Shanghai, Ningbo and other Asian ports.
Shipping prices for shipping companies such as Maersk and COSCO Shipping on the China-U.S. route soared by 300% in a short period of time. Traffic volume on the East-U.S. route was reduced by 40% due to the Panama Canal, and container ships were generally delayed for more than a week.
05 The commercialization of Arctic waterways breaks through. Chinese container ship’s maiden voyage to the Arctic Express is successful.
In September, China launched the "Arctic Express" seasonal container service, operated by Panamax container ships owned by COSCO Shipping Lines, shortening the transportation time from Asia to Europe from 40-50 days to 18-20 days.
In October of the same year, the Chinese container ship "Istanbul Bridge" completed the 7,500-nautical mile voyage of the Arctic Northeast Passage. It took only 20 days to travel directly from China to the United Kingdom, officially verifying the commercial feasibility of container transportation on the Arctic Passage.
06IMO net zero framework vote postpones green container ship investment into wait-and-see
In October, a special meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee concluded in London. The originally planned vote on the global net zero framework for shipping was postponed to 2026.
This framework directly affects the green transformation layout of container shipping companies. Previously, Maersk, COSCO Shipping, etc. have launched green fuel container ship ordering plans.
The United States leads the opposition camp and threatens to take retaliatory measures such as port bans against supporting countries, causing shipping companies to wait and see.If the framework is implemented, shipping companies will need to invest heavily in the research and development and construction of methanol- and ammonia-fueled container ships. This delay has slowed the popularity of green container ships around the world.
07 The US maritime 301 investigation into China promotes China’s countermeasures
In March, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) held a public hearing on proposed restrictions on China’s shipping, logistics and shipbuilding industries.
The core provisions include imposing a port fee of US$1 million each time on Chinese shipping companies and charging Chinese-built ships a port fee of up to US$1.5 million.
In October, the United States officially implemented relevant restrictive measures, and China immediately responded by imposing special port fees on ships with American elements.
08 Hainan island-wide customs closure operation started
In December, the island-wide customs seal operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port was officially launched to implement the core policy system of "liberation on the first line, control on the second line, and freedom on the island"
After the customs closure, 74% of Hainan's goods have achieved "zero tariff" imports, and the tax items have expanded from more than 1,900 to more than 6,600, which has greatly enhanced the attractiveness of Hainan ports for cargo distribution.In order to adapt to the customs clearance needs after the customs closure, "second-tier ports" such as Haikou New Sea Port and Nangang have activated intelligent inspection equipment and innovatively implemented the "batched departure from the island and centralized declaration" model, increasing container customs clearance efficiency by more than 50%.
09Caribbean shipping risks escalate
In 2025, the Trump administration imposed tough maritime sanctions on Venezuela and launched a comprehensive "oil blockade" to intercept and seize relevant ships passing through the Caribbean, resulting in a significant increase in regional shipping risks.
Venezuela denounces the US actions as "piracy" and legislates support for the blockade as a crime. Container ships are caught in the middle.The conflict further disrupted the container transportation pattern in the Americas, and shipping companies were forced to re-plan their feeder networks in Central America and the Caribbean.
10 Panama Canal Game Escalates
In 2025, the battle for control of the Panama Canal becomes a new focus after the water shortage crisis eases
Li Ka-shing’s Hutchison Ports plans to sell core ports at both ends of the Panama Canal. The deal has been stalled due to U.S.-led political review, further exacerbating shipping companies’ concerns about the stability of canal traffic and accelerating the diversion of shipping capacity.
Looking to the future, only by proactively embracing changes and working together can global shipping be able to firmly control the "steering wheel" of shipping in the vast and choppy ocean.
Weiyun.com has specially compiled this year’s landmark shipping hot events to review together!
01The shipping alliance pattern is reshaped and the “Gemini Alliance” is born
In February, the global shipping industry ushered in a major alliance reorganization. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd officially announced the establishment of the "Gemini Alliance" and put it into operation, marking the reshaping of the global shipping alliance pattern.
Previously, Maersk withdrew from the "2M Alliance" formed with Mediterranean Shipping Company, and Hapag-Lloyd also withdrew from the "THE Alliance". The two giants joined forces to become the world's leading shipping alliance.
The reorganization of alliances has promoted the global shipping market to form a new pattern of "Gemini", "Ocean Alliance", "Premier Alliance" and Mediterranean Shipping's "Four-Party Competition for Hegemony", which will have a significant impact on subsequent route layout and freight rate trends.
02 Red Sea crisis escalates, shipping companies collectively detour around the Cape of Good Hope
In March, the Houthi armed forces launched missile attacks on merchant ships and warships in the Red Sea, causing shipping security in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to continue to deteriorate.
Global mainstream container shipping companies such as Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company, and COSCO Shipping Lines took the lead in issuing announcements to suspend the Suez Canal route and collectively diverted around the Cape of Good Hope.
In November, as the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect, the Houthis officially announced a ceasefire, and the shipping security situation in the Red Sea initially eased.However, major shipping companies did not immediately fully resume the Suez Canal route and only launched exploratory navigation.
03The United States promotes maritime hegemony plan and shipping companies compete for domestic shipbuilding orders in the United States
In April, President Trump signed the "Reinvigorating U.S. Maritime Supremacy" executive order, which included commercial container ship manufacturing and port upgrades as national security priorities and launched an order subsidy policy.
Affected by this, the Philadelphia Shipyard acquired by South Korea's Hanwha Group launched a US$5 billion expansion plan and won the largest commercial shipbuilding order in the United States in 20 years, including 10 large container ships and 2 LNG-powered container ships.Shipping companies such as Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have expressed their intention to cooperate, hoping to obtain dividends from the US route policy through local shipbuilding orders.
04China-US routes are affected by multiple crises, shipping companies are trapped in "liquidation" and freight rates are turbulent
In May, China-U.S. container routes encountered a "liquidation" crisis, and a large amount of Chinese export container cargo was backlogged in Shanghai, Ningbo and other Asian ports.
Shipping prices for shipping companies such as Maersk and COSCO Shipping on the China-U.S. route soared by 300% in a short period of time. Traffic volume on the East-U.S. route was reduced by 40% due to the Panama Canal, and container ships were generally delayed for more than a week.
05 The commercialization of Arctic waterways breaks through. Chinese container ship’s maiden voyage to the Arctic Express is successful.
In September, China launched the "Arctic Express" seasonal container service, operated by Panamax container ships owned by COSCO Shipping Lines, shortening the transportation time from Asia to Europe from 40-50 days to 18-20 days.
In October of the same year, the Chinese container ship "Istanbul Bridge" completed the 7,500-nautical mile voyage of the Arctic Northeast Passage. It took only 20 days to travel directly from China to the United Kingdom, officially verifying the commercial feasibility of container transportation on the Arctic Passage.
06IMO net zero framework vote postpones green container ship investment into wait-and-see
In October, a special meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee concluded in London. The originally planned vote on the global net zero framework for shipping was postponed to 2026.
This framework directly affects the green transformation layout of container shipping companies. Previously, Maersk, COSCO Shipping, etc. have launched green fuel container ship ordering plans.
The United States leads the opposition camp and threatens to take retaliatory measures such as port bans against supporting countries, causing shipping companies to wait and see.If the framework is implemented, shipping companies will need to invest heavily in the research and development and construction of methanol- and ammonia-fueled container ships. This delay has slowed the popularity of green container ships around the world.
07 The US maritime 301 investigation into China promotes China’s countermeasures
In March, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) held a public hearing on proposed restrictions on China’s shipping, logistics and shipbuilding industries.
The core provisions include imposing a port fee of US$1 million each time on Chinese shipping companies and charging Chinese-built ships a port fee of up to US$1.5 million.
In October, the United States officially implemented relevant restrictive measures, and China immediately responded by imposing special port fees on ships with American elements.
08 Hainan island-wide customs closure operation started
In December, the island-wide customs seal operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port was officially launched to implement the core policy system of "liberation on the first line, control on the second line, and freedom on the island"
After the customs closure, 74% of Hainan's goods have achieved "zero tariff" imports, and the tax items have expanded from more than 1,900 to more than 6,600, which has greatly enhanced the attractiveness of Hainan ports for cargo distribution.In order to adapt to the customs clearance needs after the customs closure, "second-tier ports" such as Haikou New Sea Port and Nangang have activated intelligent inspection equipment and innovatively implemented the "batched departure from the island and centralized declaration" model, increasing container customs clearance efficiency by more than 50%.
09Caribbean shipping risks escalate
In 2025, the Trump administration imposed tough maritime sanctions on Venezuela and launched a comprehensive "oil blockade" to intercept and seize relevant ships passing through the Caribbean, resulting in a significant increase in regional shipping risks.
Venezuela denounces the US actions as "piracy" and legislates support for the blockade as a crime. Container ships are caught in the middle.The conflict further disrupted the container transportation pattern in the Americas, and shipping companies were forced to re-plan their feeder networks in Central America and the Caribbean.
10 Panama Canal Game Escalates
In 2025, the battle for control of the Panama Canal becomes a new focus after the water shortage crisis eases
Li Ka-shing’s Hutchison Ports plans to sell core ports at both ends of the Panama Canal. The deal has been stalled due to U.S.-led political review, further exacerbating shipping companies’ concerns about the stability of canal traffic and accelerating the diversion of shipping capacity.
Looking to the future, only by proactively embracing changes and working together can global shipping be able to firmly control the "steering wheel" of shipping in the vast and choppy ocean.