Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Why Global Shipping Stocks have a Bright Future
Moneymagpie Team
10th Sep 2026
It might seem like an anomaly to invest in shipping stock at the moment. The ink is barely dry after America and Iran’s signatures, while Russia has caused disruption regarding the invasion of Ukraine, plus there are potential tariff upheavals set in motion by Donald Trump.
Some observers are nevertheless identifying that maritime careers have never been more secure, with comments suggesting that the amount of goods shipped around the world is “only going to increase.” Also, digitalisation and sustainability issues are merely creating new opportunities.
Shipping cargo, especially large amounts, is still the most efficient means. Air freight does exist, but usually for immediate delivery of individual packages.
International trading companies are still confident that shipping stocks can be relied upon and that their long-term future should be fundamentally strong.
Additionally, as America is responsible for only 15% of the worlds’ trade, Trump’s rhetoric is proving to be less damaging for the industry. Other countries are maintaining fairly strong bonds with regard to bilateral trade, even including there’s with America.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz created short-term concerns but as it was only responsible for 10% of the worlds’ overall shipping volumes, there are reasons to be optimistic about two things. A substitute oil pipeline will be expensive and subject to the same risks as vessels transporting oil, and experts are saying that the Strait will be back operating at full capacity by 2028.
Surprisingly, new supply chains, in the face of difficulties with existing ones, are reassuringly creating new links across the globe that are reliant on supply, reliability and availability of alternatives. Port infrastructure is currently seeing strong investment with the upgrading of and new sites emerging particularly around the Middle East.
It is expected that the Western side of Africa will see substantial expansion in the next decade. Also, with India exploring an opportunity regarding its first deep-water port at Vizhinjam and establishing a new connection to Senegal and onto London, there is no shortage of investment in the world-wide industry.
In Africa, the appearance of some online marketplaces has called for extensive imports to the continent from China. Also, there has been an increase in Africa’s own industrial production allowing it to export substantial quantities of its home grown produce. New ports at Senegal’s Ndayane and Nigeria’s deep seaport at Bakassi are representative of Africa’s design to be the next generation of Atlantic gateways.
Within the next five years infrastructure is expected to be in place to allow sailing through the northeastern passage connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific via the Arctic coasts of Norway and Russia.
There will be significant changes to tracking of vessels, and new ways of loading and unloading of vessels using digital technology are emerging. Cutting the administration costs will also be something AI can oversee. Digital forecasting will prevent oversights and reduce shortages, excess inventories and the need for emergency logistic decisions.
Currently there is a feeling for embracing the greener technologies, and although the US and Saudi Arabia are opposing such changes, some EU businesses have taken matters into their own hands. In some shipyards they are so busy that any order for a new ship will not be delivered until 2030.
Trade is only going to increase and if the technology allows us to build vessels in a modular, somewhat uniform, ways the whole process of delivering goods demanded around the world will become, if uninhibited, an easier operation.
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.
Subscribe
Login
0 Comments
