- Global container shipping emissions have risen 13.8% in 2024 compared to 2023.
- Despite soaring spot rates and operational challenges, tools like the Xeneta and Marine Benchmark Carbon Emissions Index (CEI) can help shippers.
- A comparative analysis using CEI shows that shippers can opt for carriers offering lower rates and lower carbon emissions.
Container shipping emissions are on track to set a new record in 2024, driven by longer routes and higher volumes. Tools like the CEI can help shippers incorporate carbon efficiency into procurement strategies, even during volatile market conditions, reports Xeneta.
Rising Emissions Amid Record Shipping Volumes
Container shipping emissions in 2024 have surged due to increased global trade volumes and longer sailing distances caused by Red Sea conflicts.
At 199.7 million tons of CO2 in the first 10 months, emissions are 9.5% higher than the same period in 2021, making IMO’s net-zero target by 2050 seem increasingly ambitious.
Economic Pressures Shift Focus Away from Sustainability
Volatility in shipping rates has pushed carbon reduction down the priority list for many stakeholders.
With spot rates rising by 400% on some routes, the financial burden of green surcharges remains a hurdle for most shippers.
Leveraging CEI for Smarter Freight Choices
The Xeneta and Marine Benchmark CEI offers shippers a way to monitor emissions across 48 trade lanes and incorporate sustainability into freight procurement strategies.
By analyzing carriers’ carbon efficiency, companies can align cost savings with environmental goals.
Balancing Costs and Emissions in Carrier Selection
A CEI comparison between two carriers on the North Europe–Far East route reveals trade-offs between price, transit time, and emissions.
Carrier B, with lower rates and a better CEI score, offers shippers an opportunity to reduce costs and emissions, provided they accept longer transit times.
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Source: Xeneta
