Do you remember how this year started? How we all thought that the world would finally recover from the pandemic and our lives would get back to normal. Well, that didn’t go as planned.
2022 has been anything but normal, so here we’ve gathered twelve main news stories from shipping and international trade that in our opinion sum up this roller coaster of a year. Enjoy the ride!
1. January: MSC becomes world’s top carrier
In the first days of the New Year, Switzerland-based carrier MSC overtook Maersk to become the world’s biggest container shipping line.
MSC’s rise to the top became possible due to several second-hand ships the company bought last year. MSC now operates 4.284 m TEU, while Maersk has 4.282 m TEU.
2. February: Russia invades Ukraine
On Feb 24, at 5:00am, Russia sent a series of air strikes all over Ukraine, hitting targets in its biggest cities including Kiev.
What Russia thought would be a swift military operation has turned into an all-out war. Today Ukrainians are still fighting vigorously for their country with the help of western allies while no end to the war is in sight.
The ongoing conflict has influenced the whole course of 2022, reshaping global trade and logistic routes as well.
3. March: Major shipping companies suspend bookings to and from Russia
As the war moved on, the world’s three biggest ocean carriers announced a suspension of all non-essential bookings to and from Russia.
Maersk, MSC and CMA halted all shipments that weren’t food, medical equipment or humanitarian supplies. The announcement came as part of the corporate exodus triggered by punitive western sanctions. They have kept piling up during the year. Russia is currently under more than 10,000 sanctions applied to individuals, entities and vessels.