Global trade is undergoing a transformation due to the growing demand for essential minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earth elements, which are fundamental to clean energy technologies, electrification, digitalization and the energy transition , warned the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) .

According to the latest  World Trade Update , the international organization indicated that demand for lithium is expected to increase by 353% between 2024 and 2040, while demand for graphite is expected to rise by 131%.

“Clean technologies are expected to account for a larger share of demand. Their share of lithium demand is projected to increase from 62% in 2024 to 87% in 2040,” he stated.

The report stressed the need to diversify supply sources , improve market transparency and strengthen international cooperation, which could contribute to open, stable, secure, transparent, rules-based and sustainable trade.

UNCTAD specified that the supply of essential minerals for the energy transition is concentrated in reserves, mining, processing and refining.

“This concentration is especially acute in processing and refining, where the highest value activities take place,” he pointed out.

In that regard, he noted that in 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo  accounted for 74% of global cobalt production,  Indonesia for 67% of nickel, and  China  for 69% of rare earth elements, reflecting the concentration of critical mineral supply in just a few countries.

“Diversifying processing capacity, promoting recycling, and strengthening national value chains will take time. It will also require long-term investment and coordinated political support,” the analysis emphasized.

He added that governments are increasingly turning to trade policy to secure access to critical minerals, strengthen industrial competitiveness, and build more resilient supply chains.

“Since 2020, nearly 100 new export measures have been introduced on minerals essential for the energy transition, including 37 licensing requirements, 31 export taxes, 29 export bans, and one export quota. The Democratic Republic of Congo has introduced the largest number of measures, followed by China and Indonesia,” he noted.

The study analyzed 73 collaboration agreements, 58 of which were signed since 2022. These agreements are helping to reshape supply chains by combining trade, industrial, and investment policy instruments.

Agreements involving developing countries tend to focus more on extraction, with fewer provisions to support value addition.

UNCTAD considered that trade in critical minerals is at a crossroads, as it can either boost export earnings, investment and structural transformation in developing countries, or it can reinforce extractive models and fragment markets into rival blocs.

In response, the organization indicated that  greater international cooperation and political coherence are essential.

“Trade policy must support both the development needs of developing countries rich in critical minerals and the global transition to a digital and low-carbon economy,” he said.

The report comes in a context where the United States has imposed export restrictions on semiconductor technology to China, where the Asian country has responded with export controls on graphite, gallium and germanium.

Meanwhile, Mexico and the United States established a joint action plan on critical minerals with the aim of ensuring the supply of essential inputs for various key sectors of industry.

The plan includes regulations for the extraction, processing, and trade of these minerals. It also outlines technical and regulatory cooperation , as well as research and development of new technologies in this area, among other aspects.

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Rising geopolitical tensions are testing the resilience and momentum shown by the global economy at the start of 2026, with a projected slowdown of 2.6% for this year. This is because rising energy prices, transport disruptions, market volatility, and the search for safe-haven financial assets will hinder investment and demand, warned the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) .

According to the report “Trade and Development Outlook 2026: The world economy faces a geopolitical challenge” , the United Nations agency noted that the world economy entered 2026 with resilience, supported by trade, industrial production in developing economies and investment linked to artificial intelligence (AI).

However, he warned that the global economy is moving from an initial phase of supply disruptions and inflation to a more fragile period , where prolonged uncertainty could trigger shortages and greater financial strain.

The analysis indicated that although recent years have been largely marked by trade tensions and political uncertainty, geopolitical risks are now becoming the main source of instability for the global economy.

In this context, developing economies are the most vulnerable , as they face rising fuel, food, and fertilizer prices, while also struggling with exchange rate pressures, tighter financing conditions, and lower investor confidence.

UNCTAD noted that much of the resilience observed in 2025 was due to the growing role of developing economies in trade. “Prolonged instability now threatens to undermine that momentum.”

The report noted that rising energy prices are driving up fertilizer prices and exacerbating food inflation in several developing economies.

“At the same time, volatility and tighter financing conditions are exposing the vulnerabilities of global food trading systems,” he stressed.

He warned that food security is no longer just about availability and prices. Increasingly, it is also a matter of financial stability, especially for governments already facing higher debt servicing costs.

Global merchandise trade remained relatively strong until early 2026, but much of the momentum was concentrated in AI-related products, such as semiconductors, servers, and data processing equipment . Outside of these sectors, trade growth remained much more cautious, particularly in traditional industries and commodity-related sectors.

UNCTAD predicted that global merchandise trade growth will slow from 4.7% in 2025 to between 1.5% and 2.5% in 2026 , as uncertainty and geopolitical tensions affect supply chains, shipping, and investment decisions.

Despite this environment, the organization urged ” strengthening international cooperation , achieving more predictable trade conditions, implementing greater financial safeguards for developing economies and accelerating investment in clean and affordable energy to stabilize growth and reduce vulnerability to future crises.”

The UNCTAD report comes amid tensions in the Middle East, which began on February 28.

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The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned that increased volatility and fragmentation of trade policies are weakening the conditions of stability on which developing countries depend to expand their exports, attract foreign investment and diversify their economies .

In its most recent World Trade Update , the international organization detailed that trade rules have become less predictable .

“Countries are increasingly using discriminatory trade measures such as tariffs, investment controls and technological restrictions linked to industrial policy, national security and geopolitics ,” he said.

For developing countries, such conditions can be detrimental, as many of these nations rely on a limited range of exports and have little capacity to absorb economic shocks.

According to the analysis, despite the current adverse environment, trade continues to be an essential driver for developing countries – known as South-South trade – which has expanded rapidly within the framework of the multilateral trading system,  going from $500 billion in 1995 to $6.8 trillion in 2025 .

However, participation remains uneven: the least developed countries account for only 1.1% of global exports , far from the 2% target set for 2030, despite preferential access regimes.

Given this situation, the organization stressed the urgent need to restore certainty to trade rules . A system based on clear and stable rules is key for smaller economies to integrate into global value chains and attract investment.

The World Trade Organization ‘s (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism remains a fundamental tool: since 1995, 644 disputes have been registered, which led to the creation of 378 panels – independent teams of specialists who examine trade disagreements and issue rulings.

“Restoring a fully functional dispute settlement system is essential to maintaining fairness and predictability in global trade,” the UN agency’s report stated .

He also pointed out that services, digital technologies and the green transition are increasingly important sources of economic growth, although many developing countries remain on the sidelines of these sectors.

For example,  least developed countries account for less than 1% of global services exports . Between 2014 and 2024, their services exports grew by only 3% annually, compared to 5.3% globally, revealing the barriers they face in participating in the global services economy.

“Clearer multilateral rules in areas such as digital trade, financial services and professional services would also help ensure that developing economies can participate in these emerging sectors,” UNCTAD explained.

The report concludes that strengthening the multilateral trading system is not only an institutional necessity, but an indispensable condition for inclusive and sustainable development .

Strengthening international cooperation and ensuring the full participation of developing countries in new areas of trade will be crucial to sustaining global economic growth and expanding opportunities in an increasingly uncertain environment, marked by constant tariff changes and conflicts such as the one in the Middle East.

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The escalation of the conflict in the Middle East has disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, affecting energy markets and global supply chains , the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned .

According to an analysis by the international organization, the Strait of Hormuz is a vital passage for world trade, and the overall global economic impact will depend on the duration of the constant attacks, attributed to Iran’s offensive within the framework of the conflict it faces with the United States-Israeli axis.

“These events raise concerns about global trade and development prospects. Oil markets have reacted quickly, with Brent crude prices already exceeding $90 per barrel, a 27% increase,” the UNCTAD study stated.

He noted that rising costs for energy, fertilizers and transportation —including freight rates, ship fuel prices and insurance premiums—could lead to higher food prices and “intensify pressures on the cost of living, especially for the most vulnerable.”

UNCTAD estimated that ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately a quarter (25%) of the world’s maritime oil trade passes, has virtually stopped, registering a drastic 97% drop in daily transits.

According to the analysis, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are jeopardizing energy supplies , particularly to Asia. As a result, liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices have risen by 74 percent.

In maritime transport , freight costs for tankers have risen by up to 72%, while the price of marine fuel has doubled. Risk premiums for vessels operating in the area have increased by 300%, quadrupling insurance costs per voyage in some cases, adding to the overall cost of shipping.

The implications go beyond energy. The report highlighted that 38% of LNG and a third (33%) of the world’s maritime fertilizer trade depend on this route.

The lack of access to these supplies threatens to drive up food prices globally again, repeating patterns seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and the start of the conflict in Ukraine.

The impact is especially severe for developing nations, which rely heavily on imports from the Persian Gulf region. Countries such as Sudan, which imported 54% of its fertilizers in 2024, Australia (32%), Sri Lanka (36%), and Tanzania (31%) are among those most vulnerable to shortages of agricultural inputs.

Furthermore, the increase in bond yields in countries of the region, such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, reflects an increase in borrowing costs that exacerbates the economic pressure on public finances.

UNCTAD calls for de-escalation

Given this scenario, UNCTAD stressed the urgent need to de-escalate tensions and safeguard civilian infrastructure and freedom of navigation. The vulnerability of maritime traffic hotspots underscores the fragility of a highly interconnected global trading system, where a blockade like the one in the Strait of Hormuz can jeopardize sustainable development and social stability worldwide.

“To reduce risks to global trade and development, including environmental risks, it is necessary to de-escalate the situation and safeguard shipping, ports, seafarers and other civilian infrastructure, while maintaining safe trade corridors in accordance with international law and freedom of navigation,” he stressed.

The current situation in the Strait of Hormuz comes at a time when several developing economies are struggling to pay their debt, facing a constriction of fiscal space, and have a limited capacity to absorb further increases in input and output prices.

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A radical transformation in the international trade landscape, driven by drastic changes in US tariff policy, is redefining export competitiveness globally , with developing economies and least developed countries (LDCs) being the most exposed as they generally face larger tariff increases, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned .

According to the most recent World Trade Update , the organization detailed that until 2024, access to the U.S. market was governed primarily by the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Most Favored Nation (MFN) rules , where most trading partners faced similar tariffs. However, by early 2026, the average applied tariff had risen by almost 15 percentage points.

This change has reduced the proportion of imports subject to MFN or duty-free tariffs from 66% to just 20%, resulting in a highly differentiated tariff structure.

UNCTAD pointed out that competitiveness no longer depends solely on productive efficiency, but also on relative preferential margins , which shows how non-uniform tariff structures create advantages for some exporters and disadvantages for others.

In that regard, he cited the example of rice, whose US imports from Italy have become, on average, 12 percentage points cheaper than rice from other suppliers. Conversely, at the beginning of 2026, US imports of South African wine were approximately 17 percentage points more expensive relative to other countries than they were in 2024.

The report warned that developing economies and LDCs are the most exposed , since their exports are generally mostly to the United States.

While developed economies have managed to maintain or even improve their relative competitive position in sectors such as machinery and textiles, many developing nations face increasing obstacles, the analysis indicated.

In that context, for some LDCs, the average tariff increase has exceeded 35 percentage points , which worsens their ability to compete on price in the US market.

Nevertheless, the tariff disparity opens up specific opportunities. For example, countries like Cambodia (with rice) and Haiti (with men’s shirts) could benefit if their competitors face larger price increases.

The escalating tariffs remain a persistent barrier. One example is the cocoa supply chain: while raw cocoa beans enter the United States duty-free, tariffs on chocolate have risen significantly, making it difficult for producing countries like Ivory Coast, Ghana, or Ecuador to process their own raw materials for export.

Given this scenario, conditioned by geopolitical and economic factors, UNCTAD recommended monitoring changes in relative competitiveness , diversifying export markets to reduce dependence on restrictive unilateral policies, and taking advantage of preferential positions where agreements exist.

The report reveals how global trade has entered an era of strategic fragmentation, where the paradigm of a world market with uniform rules and low tariffs is being replaced by a complex chessboard, in which politics weighs as much as productivity.

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The increase in flows through global financial centers boosted global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which increased by 14% in 2025, reaching $1.6 trillion , revealed a report by the  United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) .

“More than $140 billion came from increased flows through global financial centers. Without these channeling flows, global FDI would have increased by only about 5 percent. This highlights the limited recovery of underlying investment activity,” UNCTAD explained in its latest Global Investment Trends Monitor .

According to the report, the value of international mergers and acquisitions fell 10% last year, while project financing decreased 16% in value and 12% in number of deals, marking the fourth consecutive year of declines.

Announcements of greenfield projects (those developed entirely from scratch) fell by 16%, and although total values ​​were high, there were a small number of megaprojects.

The report highlighted that FDI flows to developed economies increased by 43% , reaching $728 billion in 2025, driven by Europe and financial centers.

“The European Union experienced a 56% increase, due to large cross-border acquisitions and a recovery in major economies such as Germany, France and Italy,” the analysis detailed.

Conversely, flows to developing economies decreased by 2%, to $877 billion last year. Low-income countries were the most affected; “three-quarters of them registered stagnant or declining flows.”

The agency noted that international infrastructure projects fell 10%, due to a decline in renewable energy, as investors reassessed revenue risks and regulatory uncertainty.

UNCTAD also pointed out that data centers attracted more than a fifth of the value of global greenfield projects in 2025 , with announced investment exceeding $270 billion, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and digital networks.

“France, the United States and the Republic of Korea topped the list of host countries, while emerging markets such as Brazil, India, Thailand and Malaysia also attracted large projects,” the report stated, noting that the value of semiconductor projects increased by 35% during the period.

Despite this scenario, the United Nations agency estimated that FDI flows could increase “modestly” in 2026 only if financing conditions continue to improve and cross-border mergers and acquisitions pick up.

“However, real investment activity is likely to remain subdued, hampered by geopolitical tensions, political uncertainty, and economic fragmentation. Without coordinated action, global investment risks becoming even more concentrated in a few regions and sectors,” he concluded.

In Mexico, although the Ministry of Economy has not yet released the 2025 FDI ​​figure, data from the agency itself indicate that in the  third quarter of 2025 (3Q25) FDI was 40,906 million dollars , a 15% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

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Geopolitical tensions, changes in supply chains, and increasing pressure from fragmentation in the world, among other factors, could cause a slowdown in global trade during 2026 , which will affect developing economies the most, projected the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) .

According to the latest World Trade Update (January 2026) , the United Nations agency highlighted the trends that will prevail in the global exchange of goods this year.

In that regard, he estimated that global economic and trade  growth  will remain moderate, at around 2.6% in 2026 , while growth in developing economies, excluding China, will slow to around 4.2%. This will hit developing countries hard, which will be constrained by the slowdown in infrastructure investment and industrialization. “Stronger regional trade and diversification will be crucial to building resilience.”

“Preserving special and differential treatment remains fundamental to boosting industrialization and food security. Decisions on agriculture, digital trade, and climate-related measures will determine whether global rules support development,” he emphasized.

The analysis revealed that increased protectionism can generate more political uncertainty . Global tariffs increased in 2025, driven primarily by measures implemented by the United States, with the manufacturing sector being the most affected. Governments are expected to continue using tariffs in 2026 to achieve industrial and strategic objectives . The report noted that smaller and less diversified economies will be the most exposed to rising costs and trade volatility.

Another trend identified by UNCTAD is that almost two-thirds of global trade takes place in value chains that are being transformed by geopolitical tensions , industrial policy, and new technologies. Companies are diversifying their suppliers and relocating production closer to key markets to reduce risk.

“Countries with strong infrastructure, skills, and stable policies are better positioned to attract investment. More peripheral economies risk being left behind unless they improve logistics, skills, and the investment climate,” he explained.

He also noted that service exports currently represent 27% of world trade and grew by around 9% in 2025 , surpassing goods exports, with digital services largely driving this increase.

The analysis highlighted an increase in South-South trade, where developing countries are driving the growth of global exports.

“South-South merchandise exports increased from around $0.5 trillion in 1995 to $6.8 trillion in 2025. Today, 57% of developing countries’ exports go to other developing markets, led by Asia’s regional value chains,” he stressed.

He highlighted that Africa and Latin America are also strengthening South-South ties. “Deeper intraregional trade can help offset lower demand in advanced economies and boost resilience.”

Another trend is that environmental commitments are increasingly influencing trade as climate pledges move from ambition to implementation . “By the end of 2025, pledges from 113 countries could reduce emissions by approximately 12% by 2035.”

It also identified that oversupply of critical minerals and geopolitics can destabilize global trade and value chains, and stressed that agricultural trade will remain fundamental to food security.

Finally, he noted that trade regulations have tightened, and that national policies are reshaping global trade. “Since 2020, around 18,000 new discriminatory trade measures have been introduced. Technical regulations currently affect approximately two-thirds of global trade.”

2025 was marked by trade and geopolitical tensions that, according to analysts, will continue this year, which will continue to impact global trade, especially due to the United States’ tariff measures.

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Following an increase in trade due to advance purchases before the implementation of the new tariffs, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimated that global trade growth during the first half of 2025 could fall from 4% to between 2.5% and 3%, “with a slowdown on the horizon . ”

According to the Trade and Development Report 2025 , global economic growth is also projected to slow to 2.6 percent in 2025 , down from the pre-COVID-19 pandemic trend of 3 percent.

UNCTAD’s analysis indicated that economies such as the United States and Europe are slowing down, as is China, while “across the global south, financial volatility and weaker external demand are putting pressure on investment and employment.”

Given this challenging global outlook, developing economies will drive almost 70% of global growth in 2025 , but face the greatest constraints in financing that growth, the organization explained.

Trade has become more sensitive to financial factors , such as fluctuations in interest rates or changes in investor confidence, which affects developing countries, as monetary volatility can make imports and debt repayment more expensive .

“Prices increasingly reflect speculative strategies, not supply and demand. When finance sets food prices, countries have more difficulty ensuring affordable and reliable supplies,” the organization stated.

The unusual situation of a weakening dollar while US Treasury bond yields rise could indicate lower short-term demand for US assets; however, the dollar’s dominance persists , as almost 90% of global foreign exchange trading (the buying and selling of currencies needed for global payments) involves the dollar.

“The dollar’s ​​influence goes far beyond central bank reserves or trade pricing. It affects who can access credit, where investment flows, and how quickly financial crises spread around the world,” the report explained.

UNCTAD highlighted that developing countries now account for more than 40% of global merchandise production and trade , and almost 60% of global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows , up from 22% in the mid-2000s.

“However, their participation in global financial markets remains low, at 25%, and has even decreased, a mismatch that limits their development. Excluding China, developing countries control only 12% of the value of the global stock market and 6% of the global bond market,” he noted.

The report warned that domestic financial markets have not kept pace, leaving many developing countries dependent on foreign banks and markets, “often with high and volatile interest rates.”

Given this scenario, the report stressed the need to build economies that can withstand shocks , adapt to transitions, and grow sustainably even under conditions of uncertainty.

In that regard, the analysis suggested reforming the global financial system to support climate-vulnerable countries; expanding regional financial cooperation; strengthening national financial ecosystems; addressing emerging financial risks beyond the banking sector; and promoting “networked multilateralism,” UNCTAD concluded.

According to the United Nations report , the projected global economic slowdown by 2025 would be driven by increasing volatility in financial markets and geopolitical uncertainty , factors that are putting pressure on trade and investment worldwide.

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Trade tensions, geopolitical uncertainty and high interest rates kept investors cautious, resulting in a 3% drop in global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the first half of 2025 (1H25) , the  United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) revealed .

The decline was driven by developed economies, where cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) fell 18% to $173 billion, according to the organization’s latest Global Investment Trends Report .

Overall, developing economies performed better, with flows remaining stable. “However, trends diverged by region. Capital inflows increased by 12% in Latin America and the Caribbean and by 7% in developing countries in Asia, but fell by 42% in Africa,” UNCTAD noted.

On the other hand, high borrowing costs and economic uncertainty continued to hold back investment in industry and infrastructure during the first half of 2025.

“Announcements of projects from scratch fell 17%, due to a 29% decrease in supply chain-intensive manufacturing , such as textiles, electronics and automotive, amid tariff uncertainty,” the analysis detailed.

Meanwhile, international project financing saw an 11% decrease in the number of transactions and an 8% decrease in their value.

The trend was more positive in developing economies, where project finance operations fell by only 2% after two years of sharp declines.

Meanwhile, the value of global investment in new plans increased by 7% , driven by major projects in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the digital economy .

“The United States recorded $237 billion in new green infrastructure projects in the first half of 2025, a figure that almost equals the total for 2024 and quadruples the average for the first half of the previous decade. More than half of this value came from AI-related sectors, particularly semiconductors and data centers,” the UNCTAD report stated.

Investment projects related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries fell by 10% in number and 7% in value at the beginning of 2025, following sharp declines in the previous year.

UNCTAD explained that internationally financed projects, including transport and utilities, remained approximately 25% below the decade average, while new construction infrastructure activity fell 31% in value and 25% in number, led by sharp contractions in Latin America and the Caribbean (-78% in value and -43% in number).

The United Nations report indicated that investment in renewable energy also weakened .

“Globally, international financing for projects in the sector fell by 9% in number and 10% in value. Global projects for new renewable energy installations also decreased by 55% in number and 21% in value. In developing economies, projects fell by 23%. In the least developed countries, the decrease was 31% in number and 18% in value,” he noted.

UNCTAD anticipated that geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, economic fragmentation and efforts to reduce risks in supply chains will continue to affect capital flows for the remainder of 2025.

“Even so, the easing of financial conditions, the increase in mergers and acquisitions activity in the third quarter and the greater overseas spending by sovereign wealth funds could support a modest recovery by the end of the year ,” the agency estimated.

It is worth remembering that, during the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25), Mexico attracted a new all-time high in FDI, with 34 billion 265 million dollars , which meant an increase of 10.2% compared to the same period in 2024, when it was 31 billion 096 million dollars.

36% of FDI went to the manufacturing sector . “Financial services also stand out with 26.7%, followed by construction and mining with 7.6% and 7.2%, respectively,” the Ministry of Economy (SE) emphasized .

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Faced with adjustments due to geopolitical and structural pressures, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned of the stagnation of global trade and maritime transport resulting from the tariff policy promoted by the United States.

“Political tensions, new tariffs, changing trade patterns, and the reconfiguration of maritime routes are reshaping the geography of maritime trade,” the organization stated.

According to its report,  Shipping in Review 2025: Staying the Course in Troubled Waters , released Wednesday, global seaborne trade grew by 2.2% in volumes and 5.9% in ton-miles in 2024, but is forecast to slow by 0.5% in 2025 , “before averaging 2% annually over the period 2026-2030.”

He detailed that maritime energy trade patterns showed a shift, with coal increasing, oil remaining stable with longer routes, and gas also registering an increase.

The report highlighted that trade in critical minerals is expanding, creating opportunities, but also risks. “These developments are transforming maritime trade and placing new demands on transport and logistics .”

According to the agency’s analysis, there were route changes due to various situations, such as the Red Sea crisis in 2024, which caused an increase in freight rates . Added to this were geopolitical tensions this year, such as the disruption of maritime activity in the Strait of Hormuz .

“The Strait of Hormuz, through which 11% of global trade and a third of seaborne oil trade flow, also faces disruption risks. The diversion to longer routes will increase carbon emissions from shipping in 2024,” he explained.

UNCTAD noted that new tariffs in the United States and other countries have added complexity. For developing economies , the rerouting could create transshipment opportunities at some ports, but would also increase maritime transport costs.

Regarding fleet renewal , he indicated that safe vessel recycling, global standards on greenhouse gas emissions control, and a skilled workforce are key to a timely and just transition to low- carbon shipping .

In the face of geopolitical and trade disruptions, he considered that freight rate volatility has become the new normal.

“Container, bulk, and tanker freight rates have remained high and volatile in 2024 and 2025, with sharp fluctuations amid geopolitical tensions, shifts in trade policies, and supply-demand imbalances. This instability is increasing global trade costs,” he emphasized.

Vessel diversions have lengthened voyages, reduced effective capacity, and raised operating costs, impacting container shipping , with spot and charter rates nearing their COVID-19 pandemic peaks in mid-2024 before declining, “but still well above pre-crisis levels. Volatility has continued into 2025 amid new tariffs and the risk of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The report warned that ports are under increased pressure as vessel diversions and rescheduling of ports of call disrupt schedules.

“Between December 2023 and March 2024, average port waiting times increased by 23%, to 6.4 hours in developed economies, and by 7%, to 10.9 hours, in developing economies,” he added.

In this regard, he indicated that it is urgent to improve port performance, as well as adapt the infrastructure and services of these facilities to the impacts of climate change and modernize them for the energy transition.

Faced with an adverse environment, UNCTAD proposed various actions to improve maritime transport. In this regard, it considered that we must move toward a sustainable, resilient, and digitalized future .

He suggested leveraging maritime transport and logistics for equitable integration and transformation , promoting fleet modernization and sustainable maritime trade practices, implementing regulatory measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as utilizing digital solutions and strengthening the regulatory framework to address cyber risks, among others.

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