KMI Holds International Shipping Conference with China to Explore Cooperation on Global Shipping Market Challenges

150 Participants from South Korea and China’s Shipping, Ports and Logistics Sectors Attend

Discuss Chokepoint Risks, Decarbonization and Other Key Issues

The Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) held an international shipping conference with China to explore ways for the two countries to cooperate in responding to uncertainty in the global shipping market.

The Korea Maritime Institute (KMI, President Cho Junghee) held the 17th KMI-SISI International Shipping Conference jointly with the Shanghai International Shipping Institute (SISI) in Shanghai, China, on November 5.

About 150 people from the shipping, ports and logistics sectors in South Korea and China attended the conference. Under the theme “Challenges and Opportunities Facing Global Shipping and Logistics,” they gave presentations and took part in a panel discussion.

The KMI-SISI International Shipping Conference has been held since 2009 to discuss key issues in the shipping, ports and logistics sectors in the two countries and strengthen cooperation. The Korea Shipowners’ Association and the China Shipowners’ Association have also participated since 2023.

The first session focused on the outlook for the international container shipping market, major risk factors affecting the maritime transport market, and changes in global logistics supply chains.

Choi Geonwoo, an associate research fellow at KMI, analyzed the impact of chokepoint risks on the tanker market, focusing on developments in the Strait of Hormuz and the Panama Canal. He noted that risks at key maritime routes have become an ongoing rather than temporary risk factor. He forecast that even if trade volumes increase in 2027, the key factor affecting freight rates will be whether major maritime routes return to normal.

Kim Donghwan, director of the Center for International Logistics Investment Analysis and Support, emphasized that the flexibility of port terminals determines the competitiveness of global supply chains. Xiao Fei, a senior market analyst at China’s SISI, presented trends and an outlook for the international dry bulk shipping market, forecasting that Capesize vessels will retain their relative advantage in 2027.

At the panel discussion in the second session, experts from both countries discussed key issues, including uncertainty in the shipping market, an oversupply of vessels, carbon taxes and the digitalization of ships. They agreed in particular that the two countries should expand information sharing and joint research to secure stable maritime transport routes and strengthen supply chain resilience.

KMI President Cho Junghee said, “This conference provided a meaningful opportunity for experts from both countries to assess next year’s shipping, ports and logistics markets and explore practical responses together. We will contribute to exchanges and cooperation between South Korea and China in these sectors, with the China Research Center playing a central role.”

KMI hosts the SISI International Shipping Conference and poses for a commemorative photo.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.