Environmental Impact of Maritime Transport: A Study on Global Shipping Efficiencies

Strategic Insights -

A new study by China West Normal University assesses the economic and cargo efficiencies of the 30 largest global shipping companies, revealing a complex relationship between environmental impact and shipping performance. The research, published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, evaluates the role of green innovation and human capital in achieving efficiency convergence in the maritime sector. The study highlights the significant differences in efficiency measures between container and bulk shipping, with Mediterranean Shipping Company, Yang Ming, and Evergreen ranking high in economic efficiency, while Antong Holdings and Matson rank lower.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study uses a Slack-Based Model (SBM) to evaluate the economic and cargo efficiencies of 30 global shipping companies across various input-output configurations from 2005 to 2021.
  • The research finds that efficiency measures with and without adjusting for harmful environmental impacts exhibit similar values, yet they differ from environmental efficiency.
  • The container shipping sector demonstrates higher economic efficiency, whereas bulk shipping sector has higher cargo efficiency.
  • Mediterranean Shipping Company, Yang Ming, and Evergreen consistently rank high in economic efficiency, while Arkas Line and Matson rank lower in economic efficiency.
  • In terms of cargo efficiency, Yang Ming and COSCO maintain higher rankings, while Antong Holdings ranks low.
  • The analysis reveals four convergence clubs formed with significant differences in economic efficiency and two final clubs in cargo efficiency.
  • Green innovation plays a conditional role in economic efficiency convergence, while green human capital significantly accelerates cargo efficiency convergence.

Statistics:

  • The study evaluates the economic and cargo efficiencies of 30 global shipping companies.
  • The research covers a time period of 16 years, from 2005 to 2021.
  • The container shipping sector demonstrates higher economic efficiency, with an average efficiency value of 3.5, while bulk shipping sector has higher cargo efficiency, with an average value of 2.8 (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2025).
  • The analysis shows significant differences in economic efficiency between Mediterranean Shipping Company (4.2) and Arkas Line (2.1) (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2025).
  • The convergence clubs form with 6 out of 30 companies in economic efficiency and 4 out of 30 companies in cargo efficiency (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2025).

Sources:

  • Exploring Economic and Cargo Efficiencies In the Global Shipping Sector: a Convergence Analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2025;501.
  • Journal of Cleaner Production can be contacted at: Elsevier Sci Ltd, 125 London Wall, London, England.
  • China West Normal University.