China, India and Brazil are among developing nations establishing new green shipping corridors despite regulatory uncertainty following the International Maritime Organisation's decision to postpone its net-zero framework for a year, reports London's S&P Global.

A progress report from the Getting to Zero Coalition and Global Maritime Forum said 25 new corridors have been launched this year, bringing the total to 84 worldwide. Jesse Fahnestock of the Global Maritime Forum said the involvement of major economies is promising for scaling zero-emission shipping.

Mr Fahnestock added that countries recognise green corridors as strategic economic infrastructure, offering competitive advantages in energy, trade and technology. Other nations including Chile, Ghana and Kenya are also targeting opportunities through zero-emission marine fuels and bunkering.

The report cautioned that many initiatives face a "feasibility wall" due to the cost gap between conventional and zero-emission fuels. The IMO's framework was delayed by US-led opposition at an October meeting in London, intensifying challenges for governments and industry.

The report urged use of national programmes such as the EU's Global Gateway, Germany's H2Global and Australia's Hydrogen Headstart to advance projects ahead of a global framework. Mr Fahnestock said the next 11 months should be used to build projects that create strategic advantages and position participants for future IMO rewards.

Recommendations included pursuing strategies to qualify for first mover incentives and engaging with cargo owners willing to pay premiums for cleaner fuels. The report said stronger industry commitment to decarbonisation goals could help scale solutions.

One of the largest projects connects Rotterdam and Singapore, aiming to cut emissions on the 15,000-km route by 20 per cent by 2030. The corridor involves 25 partners operating more than 90 vessels with a combined capacity of 1.5 million TEU annually.

The Xeneta and Marine Benchmark Carbon Emissions Index fell below 100 points for the first time in a year, standing at 97.4 in the second quarter, signalling recovery in container shipping emissions. Green corridors, first introduced in 2021, are seen as central to achieving the target of zero-emission fuels accounting for 5 per cent of all fuels by 2030.