KMI Hosts 44th Global Shipping Insight: Assessing Shipping Market Amid Global Trade, Climate, and Geopolitical Variables

Over 200 Experts Gather
Comprehensive Outlook on IMO Regulations, Eco-Friendly Vessels, Containers, and Tankers

The Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), led by President Cho Jeonghee, held the "44th Global Shipping Insight" seminar on November 19 at the Bankers Club in Seoul. The event was attended by more than 200 domestic experts in the shipping, logistics, shipbuilding, and financial sectors.

KMI is holding the "44th World Shipping Outlook" and taking a commemorative photo. Provided by KMI

Marking its 44th year, this seminar was organized to examine the key factors driving uncertainty in the shipping industry, including changes in the global trade environment following the inauguration of the Trump administration in the United States in 2025, climate change, energy transition, and escalating geopolitical tensions. The seminar also aimed to discuss the shipping market outlook for 2026 and strategies for industry response.

The opening ceremony began with welcoming remarks from Cho Jeonghee, President of KMI, followed by congratulatory speeches from Heo Manuk, Director General of Shipping and Logistics at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Yang Changho, Vice President of the Korea Shipowners’ Association.

The first session focused on the global economic outlook and trends in International Maritime Organization (IMO) environmental regulations.

Joo Won, Head of Research at Hyundai Research Institute, addressed the topic "Changes in the External Environment and the Global Economic Outlook for 2026," diagnosing global economic uncertainties and key economic issues. Kim Hoejun, Head of the Convention Affairs Team at Korean Register, presented "Key Outcomes and Implications of IMO MEPC ES.2," explaining the impact of strengthened greenhouse gas reduction regulations.

The panel discussion, chaired by Lee Sangyun, Professor at Inha University, included Kim Kyunghoon, Director at the Korea Shipowners’ Association; Yang Jongseo, Senior Researcher at the Export-Import Bank of Korea; and Lee Eunkyung, Head of Shipping, Logistics & Maritime Research at KMI. Kim Kyunghoon called for expanded policy and private financial support for the transition to eco-friendly vessels, while Yang Jongseo highlighted the importance of the blue ammonia strategy, mentioning the introduction of ammonia-fueled ships next year.

Lee Eunkyung emphasized the need for data-driven proactive responses to global trade environment risks and the necessity of strategic reorganization by utilizing the grace period for IMO regulations.

In the second session, KMI and industry experts presented trends and outlooks for the container, tanker, and dry bulk shipping markets through 2026.

Analyses were conducted for major vessel types such as container ships, tankers, Capesize, Panamax, and Supramax vessels, with the supply, demand, and changing conditions identified as key variables for next year's market. The panel discussion, chaired by Junsoo Jeon, Professor Emeritus at Sogang University, featured Seo Jeongryeong, Executive Director at HMM; Gong Byeongjun, CEO of Fresco International; and Bae Seunghoon, Group Leader at Samsung SDS.

Seo Jeongryeong pointed out the structural oversupply in the container shipping market and identified the normalization of the Red Sea route as a key factor for the short-term outlook. Gong Byeongjun assessed that the VLCC market currently favors shipowners, citing U.S. sanctions as a major variable. Bae Seunghoon noted that the dry bulk supply remains relatively stable and predicted that, if uncertainties such as war and tariff policies are resolved, demand for container ships will gradually recover.

President Cho Jeonghee stated, "We will actively incorporate the analyses and recommendations of experts into our research and do our utmost to support policies for the sustainable development and enhanced competitiveness of the shipping industry."

This seminar was evaluated as a venue where domestic experts in shipping, logistics, shipbuilding, and finance gathered to comprehensively assess industry changes and seek practical response strategies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.