Scenario 1: Maritime compliance costs are no longer confined to regional regulation. Based on current policy timelines and market assumptions, the industry’s annual compliance bill could rise from around USD 2.7 billion in 2024 to more than USD 57 billion by 2032, with the IMO framework becoming the largest driver of future cost exposure.
The full storyThe IMO's 84th Marine Environment Protection Committee could not finalise the Net-Zero Framework, but the substance of the week was the opposite of the headline. A clear majority of member states returned to the NZF as the basis for further negotiation, reversing the adjournment that derailed MEPC.ES2 in October 2025.
New emission levies are emerging in parts of Africa. For now, the direct cost impact is limited. But that’s not the most important takeaway.
2025 marks the first year of FuelEU Maritime reporting, and shipowners along with their managers are now preparing their data ahead of the 31 March submission deadline. Among the new requirements, one mechanism stands out as complex, yet important, if you want to cut compliance costs: fuel allocation.
