Sailing Green, Trading Smart: The Role of Backhauling in Sustainable Maritime Logistics
The global shipping industry faces a persistent inefficiency; empty container repositioning, which accounts for nearly 30% of all container movements (UNCTAD, 2023). This practice stems from trade imbalances, such as Asia’s export dominance over imports and results in $20 billion in annual losses, 10 million+ tons of avoidable CO₂ emissions, and chronic port congestion. While backhauling (securing return cargo for vessels) offers a viable solution, its adoption remains limited due to fragmented logistics networks, lack of standardized contracts, and misaligned incentives between carriers and shippers. As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) tightens emissions regulations [Ex: CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator), EEXI (Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index)], optimizing container utilization through backhauling has become critical to achieving sustainable maritime logistics. This study investigates the economic and environmental potential of backhauling, evaluates existi...
