UNCTAD Press conference 22 October 2024
/
40:06
/
MP4
/
2.4 GB
Transcripts
Teleprompter
Download

Press Conferences | UNCTAD

UNCTAD Press conference 22 October 2024

STORYLINE

Global maritime trade grew by 2.4% in 2023, recovering from a 2022 contraction, but the recovery remains fragile.

Key chokepoints like the Suez and Panama Canals are increasingly vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, conflicts and climate change.

These disruptions are extending shipping routes, straining supply chains and raising costs, with profound impacts on food security, energy supplies and the global economy, as over 80% of world trade volume is carried by sea.

Vulnerable economies, especially small island developing States and least developed countries, are hit hardest by rising shipping costs from rerouted vessels.

The Review of Maritime Transport 2024 highlights these challenges, calling for urgent action to strengthen industry resilience, accelerate decarbonization and support vulnerable economies.

It underscores the need for new infrastructure that is sustainable and resilient, a faster transition to low-carbon shipping and a crackdown on fraudulent ship registrations to safeguard global trade.

Production date: 22 October 2024

Creator: UNCTAD

Subject topical: ECONOMICS

Corporate name: UN TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT – UNCTAD

REVIEW OF MARITIME TRANSPORT 2024 – LAUNCH IN GENEVA

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) launched today the Review of Maritime Transport 2024: Navigating maritime chokepoints, which addresses critical vulnerabilities in global maritime routes, including the Suez and Panama canals.

DESCRIPTION

STORY: UNCTAD / Review of Maritime Transport

TRT: 02:55

SOURCE: UNCTAD

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

WEBSITE: https://unctad.org/rmt2024

DATELINE: 22 OCTOBER 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

1. Wide shot, speakers at the podium of the press conference; speaker on screens, photographer taking pictures

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Shamika Sirimanne, UN Trade and Development, Director of Technology and Logistics: « We project maritime trade to grow at an average annual rate of 2.4% in the medium term. This is between 2025 and 2029, and containerized trade to increase by 2.7% in the medium term. Now, we believe that this growth to be supported by technological advancements, the transition to cleaner energy and renewed interest in investing in maritime and trade infrastructure. »

3. Medium shot, speakers on the podium; speaker on the screens; Photographer taking pictures.

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Shamika Sirimanne, UN Trade and Development, Director of Technology and Logistics: « The downside risks loom high for this medium-term projection. The geopolitical upheavals, unrelenting conflicts and wars never, never bode well for international trade. Rising protectionism and the resultant trade restrictions are on the rise. »

5. Medium shot, journalists in the press room; speaker on screen

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Shamika Sirimanne, UN Trade and Development, Director of Technology and Logistics: « And many low-income countries are faced with rising debt burdens, elevated borrowing cost and and they are unable to face further external shocks. You see, when the future is uncertain or the future is very uncertain as consumers us, what we do first is to tighten belts and we don't spend and invest, just go into the wait and see mode. »

7. Med shot, journalists in the press room

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Shamika Sirimanne, UN Trade and Development, Director of Technology and Logistics: « maritime choke points in several places have been acting up. The result is significant pressure on global logistics and strained supply chains. »

9. Wide shot, speakers at the podium of the press conference; speaker on screens, photographer taking pictures

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Shamika Sirimanne, UN Trade and Development, Director of Technology and Logistics: « By mid 2024, container freight rates more than doubled compared to the end 2023. And also red sea disruption has had significant impact on container rates. While rates have gone down in recent months. They are far above the rates observed prior to the Covid 19 pandemic, and this is a very big concern. And most importantly, high and volatile freight rates and the uncertainty they bring to the cost of doing business on a significant deterrent for international trade. »

11. Medium shot, speaker on the screens; journalist in the room; Photographer taking pictures.

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Shamika Sirimanne, UN Trade and Development, Director of Technology and Logistics: « Who bears the cost? So, when maritime chokepoints act up, small island developing states and least developed countries are hit the hardest in terms of rising price levels of food and other essential goods. »

13. Medium shot, speaker on the screens; Photographer taking pictures.

14. Medium shot, journalist in the room.

15. Photographer taking pictures in the room.


Documents 1
Download Storyline
Download

Audio Files 2
Download UNCTAD Press conference 22 October 2024 (Continuity)
Download
Download REVIEW OF MARITIME TRANSPORT 2024 (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 01 July 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IFRC , WFP , WMO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 01 July 2025 ENG

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 27 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WHO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 27 June 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the World Health Organisation, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the World Meteorological Organisation.

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls - 26 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls - 26 June 2025 ENG FRA

Forms of sex-based violence against women and girls, and the concept of consent in relation to violence against women and girls

UNCTAD Press conference: impact of AI on labor, policies and global equity - 26 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNCTAD

UNCTAD Press conference: impact of AI on labor, policies and global equity - 26 June 2025 ENG FRA

How AI and the digital economy intersect with labor markets, policy gaps, and global equity – Background briefing ahead of Ai for Good Summit

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar - 25 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar - 25 June 2025 ENG FRA

Press conference by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity - 24 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity - 24 June 2025 ENG FRA

Call for Solidarity and Peace: Addressing the Normalization of Violence and Arctic Militarization Risks through Indigenous Peoples’ Examples, Including Insights from the Independent Expert’s Visit to Denmark and Greenland

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 24 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | ITU , OHCHR , UNCTAD , UNESCO , UNHCR

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 24 June 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the International Telecommunication Union, and the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization.

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Special Rapporteur on Health - 23 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press conference: UN Special Rapporteur on Health - 23 June 2025 ENG FRA

Press conference by the Special Rapporteur on the right to health on her report to HRC59 focused on Health and care workers as defenders of the right to health.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 20 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNOG , UNICEF , WHO , UNHCR , HRC , UNCTAD

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 20 June 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of UNICEF, WHO, HRC, UNCTAD, UNHCR

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press Conference: Elections in the digital age - 19 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

OHCHR/Special Procedures - Press Conference: Elections in the digital age - 19 June 2025 ENG FRA

Press conference of the UN Special Rapporteur on the freedom of opinion and expression and the UN Special Rapporteur on the freedom of peaceful assembly and association

UNCTAD Press conference - 19 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNCTAD

UNCTAD Press conference - 19 June 2025 ENG FRA

Publication of the World Investment Report 2025

HRC 59 Press conference: Commission of Inquiry on OPT and Israel - 18 June 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | HRC

HRC 59 Press conference: Commission of Inquiry on OPT and Israel - 18 June 2025 ENG FRA

Launch of the latest report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel