🌍 Global Trade Is Shrinking. What’s Next for Container Shipping?
📊 10 Must-Know Shifts from the WTO’s 2025 Report to Rethink Your Routes, Volumes & Strategy
🔥 Greetings, Maritime Mavericks,
When global trade slows down, shipping feels it first.
The WTO’s 2025 Global Trade Outlook doesn’t just update forecasts — it sends a message:
Tariffs, inflation, and uncertainty are reshaping global logistics in real time.Whether you're managing fleets, forwarding boxes, or running port terminals, these 10 insights will help you stay ahead of the curve in a volatile 2025.
🧭 What’s Really Going On — And Why It Matters?
Here’s what you’ll discover in this special report:
Is global containerized trade set to contract — and why now?
Which regions will pull volumes down — and which may surprise you?
How are U.S. and China reshaping flow patterns in 2025?
Where are secondary lanes like Africa and South America gaining traction?
Will digital trade and new inventory strategies shift box demand?
Let’s dive in 👇
1. 📉 Global Trade Is Expected to Shrink in 2025
World merchandise trade is projected to fall by -0.2% this year. That’s a sharp downgrade from last year’s 2.7% growth — and the first decline since the post-pandemic rebound.
2. ⚠️ Uncertainty Is Killing Momentum
New tariffs and unpredictable trade policies have become a major drag.
The WTO says global trade growth would’ve been close to +3%, but uncertainty alone has wiped out 1.5 percentage points.
3. 🇺🇸 U.S. Imports Are Slowing — Fast
The U.S. is importing less across major containerized categories like electronics, apparel, and machinery. This affects transpacific volumes and may reduce port calls, especially on the West Coast.