The Italian Maritime Economy 2026 Report analyses the significant changes that are reshaping the balance of global maritime trade, against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, transformations in supply chains, and new energy and environmental challenges.

At the heart of the analysis lies the Mediterranean, an increasingly strategic hub between Europe, Asia and Africa, examined through the evolution of geo-economic scenarios, trends in Italian port traffic and the growing role of raw materials – particularly critical ones – in the new global order. The Report also explores the sector’s major development trends, drawing on contributions from leading international think tanks who are also partners of SRM, while addressing crucial issues such as emerging logistics corridors like the IMEC, port resilience in crises, the energy transition in shipping, and the impact of environmental policies on Mediterranean routes. Ample space is devoted to the drivers of the future: intermodality, technological innovation and digitalisation, with a focus on artificial intelligence, digital twins and new operational models, as well as an analysis of economies of scale and the challenges posed by the trend towards ever-larger vessels. In a constantly evolving landscape, the Report remains a key reference tool for operators, institutions and the research community, offering up-to-date insights to understand the sector’s dynamics and identify development opportunities for the Italian maritime and logistics system.