31% emissions gap: Why your ocean shipment’s carbon footprint depends

A new analysis of global container shipping reveals a striking disparity in emissions performance among ocean carriers, even on identical trade routes. The findings, based on data from 86,389 voyages completed in the second quarter of 2026, show that operational decisions—not just vessel size—play a critical role in determining sustainability outcomes. According to Athens-based analytics firm VesselBot, the industry’s average emissions intensity rose 1.5% year over year, reaching 231.7 grams of CO₂ equivalent per TEU-kilometer. However, this overall increase masked significant efficiency improvements in five of six vessel-size categories. Very…

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