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COMCEC Transport and Communications

Outlook 2018

29

3.3.

M

ARITIME

T

RANSPORT

2

While all modes of transport are important, maritime transport needs special attention given

that almost 85% of global trade is carried by sea in terms of weight and thus ports can account

for a significant proportion of trade logistics and transport costs. (COMCEC, 2015)

A measure that can be used as a proxy for the international trade is the change in global fleet.

Figure 13 shows, using UNCTAD data, the change in the total fleet, in dead weight tons in

thousands, by flag of registration for the 1980-2018 period. During this 29-year period, world

fleet has increased 186% while only two subgroup, i.e. developing economies and OIC,

outperformed this global average with a growth of 417% and 258%, respectively.

Figure 13: Change in total fleet by flag of registration (in 1000 dwt) (1980-2018)

Source: Author from UNCTAD Statistical Database

The increase in the commercial fleet registered under the flags of the OIC Member States

corresponds to a total capacity of 84.5 million deadweight tons (dwt) in 2018 compared with

23.6 million dwt in 1980. The majority of the fleet consist of oil tankers whereas container ships

represent only 8.2% of the total fleet. Considering the comparatively higher share of the OIC

countries in the world trade, i.e. around 10%, than that of the fleet capacity, it can be concluded

that the majority of the OIC’s merchandise trade is being carried by foreign shipping companies.

2

For a more detailed account on the subject, see COMCEC, “Evaluating the Ownership, Governance Structures and

Performances of Ports in the OIC Member Countries”, 2015.

40

140

240

340

440

540

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

Total fleet index

(Value in 1980=100)

World

Developing economies

Developed economies

LDCs (Least developed

countries)

EU28 (European Union)

G20 (Group of Twenty)

G8 (Group of Eight)

LAS (League of Arab

States)

OIC (Organisation of

Islamic Cooperation)