SHANGHAI, Nov. 2 (Xinhua Silk Road) -- China's competitive green marine fuel supply, cost advantages and long-term policy planning could provide sustained support for the global shipping industry's transition to lower emissions, according to Johannah Christensen, chief executive officer of the Global Maritime Forum (GMF).
Turning these advantages into greater investment, however, will require clear international rules, effective economic incentives and stronger demand for green shipping, Christensen said in a recent interview with Xinhua Finance on the sidelines of the 2026 North Bund Forum in Shanghai.
China plays a pivotal role in global shipping decarbonization, with contributions spanning shipowners, shipping operators, shipbuilding and fuel production, she said.
China's green fuels are highly cost-competitive, giving the country an opportunity to maintain this advantage over the coming decades, potentially through 2050, she noted. The benefits could extend well beyond China's domestic shipping industry, supporting the global sector's broader energy transition.
"Long-term strategies make it easier for companies to make long-term investments," Christensen said.
China's policy continuity, underpinned by its five-year plans, offers businesses greater predictability and can help them secure access to competitively priced green fuels at an early stage, she said. This combination of cost advantages and a stable policy environment provides an important foundation for long-term investment.
Chinese companies can build on these strengths to attract more international partners and accelerate the transition, she said. Realizing the full potential of green shipping globally, however, will also depend on a coherent international regulatory framework. China has an important role to play in related processes at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), she added.
-- Regulatory uncertainty weighs on investment
Uncertainty affecting investment decisions across the global shipping industry is increasing. Geopolitical tensions, trade friction and regulatory uncertainty are reinforcing one another, making companies more cautious about taking risks and committing capital, while shortening the planning horizons of business decision-makers, Christensen said.
She identified regulatory uncertainty as one of the most significant barriers to the commercialization of zero-emission shipping. Delays in clarifying the rules have led some companies to postpone investment in alternative-fuel vessels. Of greater concern for the long-term transition, however, is insufficient investment in fuel supply.
The Global Maritime Forum and the Getting to Zero Coalition support the IMO's Net-Zero Framework partly because it incorporates economic measures designed to incentivize investment in green vessels and fuels, Christensen said.
The design of these measures, the strength of the incentives and the support available to early movers will all influence companies' willingness to commit capital, she said.
Without effective economic incentives, regulatory arrangements alone may not be sufficient to drive the energy transition or deliver the objectives of the IMO's greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy, she added.
-- Customer demand remains a missing link
Beyond policy predictability, stronger customer demand is another critical factor in accelerating the transition.
The Global Maritime Forum has tracked the development of green shipping corridors since 2022. Assessing whether these corridors can move forward requires examining four factors: technology and fuel development, value-chain collaboration, the policy environment and customer demand, Christensen said.
Value-chain collaboration involves bringing together cargo owners, ports, shipowners, fuel producers and other stakeholders to develop projects. The policy environment encompasses not only international rules developed through the IMO, but also national, regional and local policies that can be particularly important to individual corridors.
"Customer demand is the area that is currently lagging behind," she said.
While the industry has made progress in fuels, technology and collaboration across the value chain, stronger demand is needed to move green shipping corridors from studies and cooperation arrangements to investment and commercial operations, she said.
Fuel supply, vessel technology and end-user demand for transport services must advance in tandem to establish a more stable commercial foundation for green shipping, she added.
-- GMF looks to deepen engagement with China
The Global Maritime Forum chose Shanghai to host its annual summit this year, which took place on Oct. 21-22 alongside the 2026 North Bund Forum, marking the first time the event has been held on the Chinese mainland.
Christensen said the decision reflected China's importance to the global maritime industry. The forum hopes to bring together Chinese and international maritime stakeholders to deepen dialogue and cooperation on the complex challenges facing the sector.
The organization has been working with Shanghai Maritime University, Hongkou District and the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, among other partners, she said. It hopes to engage more Chinese companies and other stakeholders in its work.
"We hope this is just the beginning," Christensen said.
Asked how Shanghai could further strengthen its competitiveness as a green shipping hub, Christensen highlighted the need to expand green fuel supply and improve the supporting institutional framework.
Shanghai has already made progress in green methanol supply and bunkering trials, she said. Building on these efforts, the city could scale up supply to give more shipping companies calling at Shanghai Port access to green fuels, further strengthening the port's role in the industry's transition.
Christensen also highlighted the standard contracts, agreements and fuel supply standards unveiled during the forum. Although less visible than new ships and fuels, these institutional arrangements can reduce procedural barriers and facilitate commercial transactions, making them an important part of efforts to accelerate green shipping, she said. (Contributed by Ge Jiaming)
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