In a five-part series mid-year we take stock of shipping markets in the first six months of the year and look ahead to the remainder of the 2026 with experts Maritime Strategies International (MSI).

In this first part the Seatrade Maritime News Podcast talked to Adam Kent, Managing Director of MSI, about the overall macro-economic picture for shipping so far in 2026, and what lies ahead.

This year has been characterised by geopolitical disruption with the US/Israel – Iran war, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a worsening of security in the Black Sea with the ongoing Russia – Ukraine conflict, and continued trade wars.

“We didn't think that the world is shipping to get any more complex 2026 has certainly shown us otherwise. Up until year to date, the industry has once more been confronted with more geopolitical shocks and a playbook that seemed to change almost on a daily basis. But overall, I'd say that certainly from a shipping markets perspective, they've continued to adjust and have performed actually quite well,” Kent explains.

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