Because of the long lead times in the port cranes sector, the market is less susceptible to external shocks as other industries.
port congestion, handling tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and the share price performance of key port groups “We forecast slower throughput growth in 2026, followed by a recovery in 2027 as Middle East conditions improve,” it says. “Valuations vary across operators, with geopolitical risks remaining as a key concern.” Looking at the second quarter of 2026, Drewry found that global port throughput of sampled operators remained resilient, rising 0.4% year-on- year. It notes that the Iran conflict more heavily impacted terminals exposed to Middle East trade, with Ad Ports and DP World reporting volume declines. However, diversified operators such as ICTSI and COSCO SHIPPING Ports were able to mitigate regional weakness through growth in other markets. In fact, aggregate revenue across the ports that Drewry covers increased 13.5% to $4.2bn. Winners included Westports, ICTSI and APMT, whereas weaker revenue was reported at AD Ports and HHLA. Aggregate EBITDA rose 14% year-on-year. However, momentum weakened further into July, with Drewry’s Global Container Port Throughput Index declining 3.3% month-on- month and 1.3% year-on-year. “We forecast global port throughput growth of 2.8% in 2026, lowered from 6.4% in 2025, reflecting deeper Middle East disruptions,” it says. “Growth is expected to accelerate to 5.6% in 2027, driven largely by a recovery in the Middle East and improving momentum across other regions.” The rolling 12-month average growth rate for global port handling fell to 3.8%, the lowest level recorded in over two years. Global throughput
growth continues to slow, up only 2.2% for the year to date in July. But it is worth noting that this is not all due to geopolitics. “Three typhoons within a few weeks disrupted operations at the two largest ports in the world,” says Drewry. It found that port operations remained stable in North and South-East Asia in August, although Busan experienced increased pressure due to the port closures in China. Drewry counts the Middle East with South Asia as one reporting region. Its data shows that its index fell from 133.6 in July 2025 to 102.6 in July this year. This is a 23.2% drop, while it also fell month-on-month by 2.5%.
Part of the challenge faced by shipping lines is fuel costs. Renewable energy advocates, Transport & Energy, recently reported that shipping companies were spending €340m a day. With an estimated 99% of the global fleet reliant on fossil fuels, the industry is highly exposed to price fluctuations. Eloi Nordé, shipping policy officer at T&E, said: “Chaos in the Strait of Hormuz is putting global maritime trade under the spotlight. But it’s on the oil markets where its impact will be felt the most. The war is costing the industry millions every day.”
Regional challenges OEMs like Bromma must plan more effectively to deliver their equipment to ports in the region. “Like the whole industry, we have experienced longer shipping routes, increased logistics costs and insurance within the region and lead times due to disruptions affecting the region’s trade lanes,” it says.
This includes working closely with its
customers to plan deliveries early, adapt logistics and make sure that spare parts and service support remain available. “Our service and spare parts teams have
played a key role here,” it adds. “By planning ahead with customers, keeping critical parts available and staying in close contact with terminals, they have helped make sure operations keep running even when transport conditions are uncertain. Our customers in the Middle East rely on their equipment around the clock, and we remain fully committed to supporting them, today and in the long term.” Despite the significant challenges, goods
are still moving in and out of ports in the region, as noted by container spreader manufacturer, Bromma. It notes that, despite recent softening, globally, container port volumes have shown real resilience. Bromma cites Drewry reports that throughput grew 6.5% in 2025. “In the Middle East, we see continued investment in new capacity and terminal expansion, together with upgrades of existing fleets to improve productivity and reduce energy use,” it says. “Demand is broad across the region rather than concentrated in a single market.” Years of strategic investment have also given
the region modern and highly efficient ports. “Terminals in the Middle East are among the most modern in the world and operate in demanding conditions,” says Bromma. “What customers value most is reliability, uptime and long-term service support, partnerships and increasingly energy efficiency as ports in the region work toward their sustainability goals.”
www.hoistmagazine.com | November/December 2026 | xvii
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