• Geopolitical instability identified as the industry’s leading risk and a key impact on wider operational challenges
• Cybersecurity and regulatory fragmentation rank among the sector’s most significant concerns
• Industry leaders are focusing on pragmatic solutions to reducing emissions amid continued uncertainty over availability of future fuels and regulation.
23 June 2026, Rome – The ICS Maritime Barometer Report 2025–2026, launches today by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) at the organisation’s Shaping the Future of Shipping Summit in Rome, reveals an industry adapting to an increasingly complex operating environment shaped by geopolitical instability, regulatory uncertainty, and economic volatility.
The ICS Maritime Barometer surveys C-suite level leaders, shipowners, and operators worldwide to identify the key risk areas shaping shipping. This 2025-2026 Barometer saw a record number of responses from shipping leaders worldwide, with the report identifying geopolitical instability as the sector’s most significant concern. The report suggests this instability acts as a risk multiplier across a range of challenges including cybersecurity, regulatory fragmentation, administrative burden, and changing global trade patterns.
The findings highlight a more fragmented and less predictable environment for international shipping, while also underscoring the sector’s continued resilience and ability to adapt. The report emphasises shipping leaders’ call for greater coordination, regulatory clarity, and financial support to ensure shipping can continue to facilitate global trade while progressing its energy transition. (....)