Global Ocean Shipping Emissions Improve Post-Red Sea Conflicts

Recent analyses indicate a positive trend in the carbon emissions performance of global ocean container shipping following the disruptions caused by conflicts near the Red Sea. The Carbon Emissions Index (CEI), which monitors emissions on the top 13 international shipping routes, has fallen below 100 points for the first time in a year, registering at 97.4 in the second quarter of 2025. This marks a 4.5% reduction from the previous quarter and a 7% decrease from the peak of 104.8 points recorded in late 2024. The previous year’s surge in emissions was primarily due to rerouted vessels avoiding the Red Sea region, leading ships to navigate longer paths around Africa instead of through the Suez Canal. This rerouting significantly impacted carbon outputs on routes connecting Asia with Europe and North America’s east and Gulf coasts. Although the current CEI score reflects improvement over the last quarter, it remains slightly above last year's level of 96 points in Q2 2024. Comparing with pre-conflict levels from Q2 2023, when the index was just under 96 points (95.9), shows that emissions are now marginally higher than before the disruptions began. Certain trade routes continue to...