In  today’s  interdependent  and  globalized  world,  effcient  and  cost-effective  transportation  systems  that  link
global supply chains are the engine fuelling economic development and prosperity. With 80 per cent of global
merchandise trade by volume carried by sea and handled by ports worldwide, the strategic economic importance
of maritime transport as a trade enabler cannot be overemphasized. The trade competitiveness of all countries
– developed and developing alike, and including landlocked countries – depends heavily on effective access to
international shipping services and port networks.
The 2013 edition of the Review of Maritime Transport estimates global seaborne trade to have increased by
4.3 per cent, with the total reaching over 9 billion tons in 2012 for the frst time ever. Driven in particular by growing
domestic demand in China and increased intra-Asian and South–South trade, seaborne trade nevertheless
remains subject to persistent downside risks facing the world economy and trade. Freight rates have remained
low and volatile in the various market segments (container, liquid and dry bulk).
Maritime transport is facing a new and complex environment that involves both challenges and opportunities. Of
all the prevailing challenges, however, the interconnected issues of energy security and costs, climate change,
and environmental sustainability are perhaps the most unsettling. Climate change in particular continues to
rank high on the international policy agenda, including that of shipping and port businesses. Turning to the
opportunities, these include – to name but a few – deeper regional integration and South–South cooperation;
growing diversifcation of sources of supply; and access to new markets, facilitated by cooperation agreements
and by improved transport networks (for example the Panama Canal expansion).
In view of recent research that suggests that containerization has been a stronger driver of globalization than
trade  liberalization has,  the Review discusses global developments  in container  trade fows and containership
deployment. It also presents trends over 10 years in liner shipping connectivity in developing regions, building
upon UNCTAD’s Liner Shipping Connectivity Index which was published in 2013 for the tenth year.
The special chapter on “Landlocked countries and maritime transport” provides an overview of recent progress
made in understanding impediments to accessing sea-shipping services, for the trade of goods between
landlocked territories and overseas markets. The Review proposes a new paradigm for transit based on a
conveyor-belt concept, which aims at achieving a continuous supply of transit transport services, supported by
institutional frameworks and infrastructure. The argument proposed here is that a regular, reliable and secure
transit system is the simple, straightforward goal to pursue in order to guarantee access for landlocked developing
countries to global shipping networks on the basis of non-penalizing conditions. Given the review of the Almaty
Programme of Action that is to take place in 2014, this proposal could be part of the actions within a new agenda
for landlocked and transit developing countries.
As with all previous issues published since 1968, the Review of Maritime Transport 2013 contains a wealth of
analysis  and unique data. The Review  is  the  acknowledged United Nations  source of  statistics  and  analysis
on seaborne  trade,  the world  feet,  freight  rates, port  traffc, and  the  latest  trends  in  the  legal and  regulatory
environment for international maritime transport.
Mukhisa Kituyi
Secretary-General of UNCTAD
Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi
Secretary-General of UNCTAD