DP World's Marine Services business has published a whitepaper titled 'Navigating the Future of Maritime Trade' to coincide with World Maritime Day 2026, examining how geopolitical disruption, climate pressures, and evolving trade policies are reshaping global cargo flows. The report notes that more than 80% of world merchandise trade by volume moves by sea, representing an estimated $14 trillion worth of containerised goods.
According to the whitepaper, disruptions across international shipping corridors have become structural rather than episodic, influenced by trade tariffs and the redistribution of manufacturing. DP World highlighted that production is becoming more geographically dispersed, with India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa taking on larger manufacturing roles. This shift has driven South-South merchandise trade up from approximately $500 billion in 1995 to $8.8 trillion in 2025.
To manage shifting routes, DP World called for the optimization of 'Connected Trade Corridors' by linking feeder, coastal, and shortsea shipping services with inland rail, road, and river networks. Ganesh Raj, Global COO of Marine Services at DP World, stated that integrating ports, marine services, and inland logistics gives cargo owners more gateways and alternative routing options when established corridors face disruption.
The report also cited DP World's 2026 Global Trade Observatory survey of more than 3,500 supply chain executives, in which 94% of respondents indicated they expect trade growth in 2026 to match or exceed 2025 levels. DP World stated that its Marine Services network connects over 200 ports worldwide, supported by a fleet of more than 500 vessels.
Sources
- Gulf Business · 2026-09-25
