DP World has highlighted the growing importance of flexible and connected maritime trade corridors as geopolitical disruption, climate pressures and changing manufacturing patterns reshape global cargo flows.
The findings are outlined in a new Marine Services whitepaper, Navigating the Future of Maritime Trade, published for World Maritime Day 2026.
More than 80% of global merchandise trade by volume moves by sea, with an estimated $14 trillion worth of containerised goods relying on maritime networks that are increasingly exposed to disruption.
DP World says the response is likely to involve greater use of feeder, coastal and shortsea shipping, combined with inland rail, road and river links to provide alternative gateways when established routes are affected.
“Agility and the ability to adapt are becoming essential to business confidence and growth,” said Ganesh Raj, Global COO, Marine Services at DP World.
He said the next generation of trade will increasingly depend on “Connected Trade Corridors” linking ports, marine services and inland logistics.
The whitepaper also points to changing manufacturing patterns, with India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa taking larger roles in global production.
South-South trade is expanding rapidly, with merchandise exports between developing economies rising from around $500 billion in 1995 to $8.8 trillion in 2025.
DP World’s Marine Services network currently connects more than 200 ports across Europe, the Mediterranean, Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas, supported by a fleet of more than 500 vessels.
The company argues that future maritime competitiveness will increasingly depend on the resilience and adaptability of the networks linking regional and global trade corridors.
