Despite global shipping, logistics, and trade showing remarkable resilience despite the disruptions arising from the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz blockade, along with protectionist headwinds and extreme climate conditions, the resilience may turn out to be a fragile one unless the world acts together to tackle mounting risks, officials and industry leaders warned at the 10th Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum in China’s Ningbo.
“We are living in turbulent times. All of you working in or with ports are experiencing firsthand how rapidly the world around us is changing. Supply chains are under pressure, geopolitical realities are shifting, and energy transition is confronting the industry with major investment decisions and infrastructure adaptations,” said Jens Meier, president of the International Association of Ports and Harbours, during the opening ceremony of the forum.
The three-day forum, which happened from May 26 to 28, gathered over 1,000 delegates from more than 70 countries and regions to discuss and tackle the myriad challenges facing the maritime sector and the broader world trade and economy.
“Sustained resilience is far from guaranteed. If we are not careful, we may wake up one morning and realise we have lost it,” cautioned Tim Power, managing director of Drewry Shipping Consultants, while adding that risks to resilience, including the erosion of freedom of navigation, the fragmentation of global regulatory structure, and the weaponisation of trade, among others, should be better understood and urgently addressed.
Jin Jingdong, chief planner of China’s Ministry of Transport, called for stronger cross-border cooperation.
“We must deepen coordination in port operations, route networks, and logistics services to build a more open, inclusive, and efficient global shipping network. No single country or port can face the challenges alone,” Jin said.
The latest statistics from the ministry show that China’s ports maintained steady growth from January to April 2026, with container throughput increasing faster than overall cargo volume. During the first half of this year, ports across the world’s second-largest economy handled 5.93 billion metric tonnes of cargo, up 3.1% year-on-year. Container throughput reached 120 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an increase of 7.2%.