International shipping produces about 1,076 million tonnes of CO2, which is roughly 2.89% of global CO2 emissions. The IMO has agreed to cut total annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared with 2008. At the same time, the global merchant fleet reached 105,000 ships in 2023, with average ship age rising to 11.4 years.
Key Takeaways
- Global shipping (international) greenhouse gas emissions were about 1,076 million tonnes CO2 (2018), 2.89% of global CO2 emissions
- Shipping emissions were projected to rise by 50% to 250% by 2050 compared with 2008 levels depending on scenario
- IMO agreed to reduce total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared with 2008
- The global merchant fleet (vessels above 100 gross tons) reached 105,000 ships in 2023
- UNCTAD reported global merchant fleet size of 2.1 billion deadweight tonnes (dwt) in 2023
- UNCTAD reported average ship age increased to 11.4 years in 2023
With shipping emitting 2.5 percent of global greenhouse gases, the EU and IMO are tightening rules to cut CO2 fast.
Related reading
01 · Category
Emissions & Environment30 stats
01
Global shipping (international) greenhouse gas emissions were about 1,076 million tonnes CO2 (2018), 2.89% of global CO2 emissions
02
Shipping emissions were projected to rise by 50% to 250% by 2050 compared with 2008 levels depending on scenario
03
IMO agreed to reduce total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared with 2008
04
IMO agreed to reduce carbon intensity of ships by at least 40% by 2030 compared with 2008 levels
05
IMO agreed to reduce carbon intensity of ships by at least 70% by 2050 compared with 2008 levels
06
The EU included maritime transport in its ETS from 2024, covering about 100,000 ships calling at EU ports each year
07
The EU Fit for 55 package aims for a net 55% GHG reduction by 2030 vs 1990, which affects maritime decarbonization policy
08
In 2021, the International Maritime Organization estimated that shipping emits about 2.5% of global greenhouse gases
09
In 2012, shipping accounted for about 2.2% of global GHG emissions (IMO estimate)
10
A 2020 Transport & Environment report found that global shipping NOx emissions were around 5.4 million tonnes in 2017
11
A 2020 Transport & Environment report estimated global shipping SOx emissions at about 3.5 million tonnes in 2017
12
A 2020 Transport & Environment report estimated global shipping PM2.5 emissions at about 0.45 million tonnes in 2017
13
MARPOL Annex VI sets the global sulphur limit for fuel used by ships at 0.50% m/m since 1 January 2020 outside Emission Control Areas
14
MARPOL Annex VI sets a sulphur limit of 0.10% m/m for fuel used by ships in Emission Control Areas
15
IMO adopted the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) to reduce GHG from ships, starting from 2023 for CII implementation
16
IMO's CII requires ships to achieve an annual CII rating (A to E) and improve if rated D or E
17
Under the EU ETS maritime, about 40% of emissions from maritime are expected to be covered in 2024, according to Commission impact assessment
18
EU MRV requires large ships (over 5000 gross tonnage) to report CO2 emissions, distance, and fuel consumption
19
Under EU MRV, CO2 emissions are determined based on ship fuel consumption using IMO methodology
20
The IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention entered into force on 8 September 2017
21
Under the Ballast Water Management Convention, ships must treat ballast water to meet discharge standards (D-2)
22
IMO D-2 standard limits organisms to less than 10 viable organisms per cubic meter (≥50 µm)
23
IMO D-2 standard limits the number of organisms (≥10 and <50 µm) to less than 10^4 viable organisms per m3
24
IMO D-2 standard requires indicator microbes not exceed 10^2 CFU/100 ml for E. coli and 10^2 CFU/100 ml for intestinal enterococci
25
A report for the European Commission estimated that shipping accounts for about 10% of the EU’s man-made NOx emissions and about 3% of PM2.5 emissions
26
In 2019, the US EPA estimated shipping (international marine) as contributing about 2% of global anthropogenic NOx emissions
27
The IMO Data Collection System (DCS) requires verification of ship fuel oil consumption and calculated CO2 for ships of 5000 GT and above
28
EU DCS coverage includes voyages in/out of EU ports for ships above 5000 GT
29
In 2022, the IMO reported that 1,687 ships had submitted SEEMP Part III under the EU DCS framework (as of that reporting period)
30
Under MARPOL Annex VI, ships must have a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) on board
Interpretation
Emissions & Environment Interpretation
Global shipping is responsible for roughly 2 to 3% of the world’s greenhouse gases, and while the industry and regulators have agreed to cut emissions and carbon intensity sharply, the long and messy road to decarbonization now runs straight through tighter sulfur limits, demanding reporting rules, and even ballast water treatment designed to keep more than just pollution from traveling with the ships.
More related reading
02 · Category
Trade, Fleet & Traffic30 stats
01
The global merchant fleet (vessels above 100 gross tons) reached 105,000 ships in 2023
02
UNCTAD reported global merchant fleet size of 2.1 billion deadweight tonnes (dwt) in 2023
03
UNCTAD reported average ship age increased to 11.4 years in 2023
04
UNCTAD estimated global seaborne trade was 11.0 billion tonnes in 2022
05
UNCTAD estimated global seaborne trade reached 11.5 billion tonnes in 2023
06
In 2022, seaborne trade grew by 3.2% over 2021
07
UNCTAD estimated containerized trade increased to 189 million TEU in 2023
08
UNCTAD reported dry bulk seaborne trade at 8.0 billion tonnes in 2022
09
UNCTAD reported oil and gas trade at 3.6 billion tonnes in 2022
10
UNCTAD reported general cargo trade at 1.1 billion tonnes in 2022
11
IMO estimated that around 80% of world trade by volume is carried by sea
12
WTO estimates that around 80% of goods are transported by sea for international trade by volume
13
Clarksons World Fleet Register: global shipbuilding orderbook in 2023 was 5,200 vessels with 39 million dwt (approx as per report)
14
UNCTAD reported container ship fleet growth continued in 2023 with 6.3% increase in TEU capacity vs 2022
15
UNCTAD estimated port calls reached 14.0 million in 2022 for major ports
16
UNCTAD estimated average turnaround time at ports fell by 1.5% in 2022 vs 2021
17
UNCTAD reported that the Panama Canal transit time for container ships varied and traffic constraints affected throughput in 2023
18
S&P Global Market Intelligence reported that 2023 saw a 6.3% increase in global tanker fleet capacity (dwt) year-on-year
19
UNCTAD reported that the top 10 liner shipping companies controlled 82% of container shipping capacity
20
UNCTAD Liner Shipping Connectivity Index scale: higher values reflect greater connectivity; index values can be up to about 200 (reported for 2022)
21
OECD estimated that a typical container ship can carry up to ~20,000 TEU, depending on class
22
UNCTAD reported that the Suez Canal handled 1.38 billion tonnes in 2022
23
Suez Canal Authority reported total traffic volume in 2023 of 1.28 billion tonnes
24
Panama Canal Authority reported transit totals in 2023 of 12,367 transits
25
Panama Canal Authority reported 2023 total cargo transiting of 471 million PC/UMS
26
Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported that average daily rates for container shipping in 2023 reached about $2,000per TEU (index dependent)
27
Drewry World Container Index average in April 2024 was $2,421/40ft container
28
World Bank estimated global port throughput (container) at 860 million TEU in 2022
29
World Shipping Council estimated that the shipping industry handled about 11 billion tons of cargo annually
30
World Shipping Council reported that seaborne trade accounts for 80% of world trade by volume
Interpretation
Trade, Fleet & Traffic Interpretation
In 2023 the world kept trading by sea at full scale, squeezing ever more capacity out of a fleet of 105,000 ships that is aging to 11.4 years, with 11.5 billion tonnes moved, major canals under pressure, ports managing around 14 million calls, container rates hovering near breakeven to profitable depending on the index, and just a handful of liner giants controlling most capacity, while tankers and offshore activity quietly flexed to carry everything from dry bulk to oil and gas and even help power rising US crude exports.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Marine Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/marine-industry-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Marine Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/marine-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Marine Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/marine-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
37 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+18 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)