Greater China’s evolving role in global trade: Logistics trends and opportunities

Greater China remains one of the most influential hubs in global trade. The region continues to drive innovation, transformation, and new business models that are reshaping supply chains worldwide.

For logistics providers, this shifting landscape presents both challenges and opportunities. The need for integrated, technology-enabled, and lower-GHG emissions solutions has never been greater.

In this video, Silvia Ding, Area Managing Director, Greater China Area at Maersk, shares her on-the-ground perspective on the innovations and trends redefining logistics to match this high-speed market.

Three market trends redefining supply chains

1. Chinese companies going global 3.0
   In earlier decades, global expansion often meant manufacturing in China and exporting to the world. Today’s approach is different. Chinese companies are building production closer to consumer markets, creating a more distributed and interconnected global supply chain. This model demands sophisticated coordination across multiple geographies, as well as the ability to provide end-to-end visibility. Rising tariffs and trade restrictions, identified by half of logistics decision makers in Asia Pacific for The Logistics Trend Map* are adding complexity to this global reconfiguration.
2. China’s central role in the low-emission energy transition
   Equally significant is China’s growing leadership in the global energy transition. With rapid advancements in solar, wind, electric vehicles, and battery technology, the country is emerging as a major exporter of lower-GHG emissions solutions. These products, however, bring new logistics demands: complex safety requirements, heavy cargo, and the need for global reach. At the same time, according to The Logistics Trend Map*, escalating fuel and energy costs are putting pressure on transport networks, especially in regions dependent on imported fossil fuels.
3. The rise of B2B e-commerce
   The third trend is the evolution of e-commerce from a consumer phenomenon into a core global business model, particularly in the B2B space. Chinese platforms are expanding into Europe and North America, bringing affordable goods to new markets and increasing pressure for faster, tech-enabled logistics. While global logistics leaders often cite geopolitical disruptions as a top concern in terms of supply chain risk, only 35% of decision-makers in Asia Pacific* view it as a major challenge, according to The Logistics Trend Map, highlighting a regional divergence in perceived vulnerability.

*Sources: Survey among 570 global logistics decision-makers, including 121 from the Asia Pacific region, conducted by Statista on behalf of Maersk (Q4/2024) for The Logistics Trend Map; International Energy Agency (2025); World Bank (2024).

How Maersk is positioning for growth

To meet the evolving needs of the Greater China market, Maersk is focusing on four interconnected priorities:

Resilient ocean networks – maintaining a strong backbone for global connectivity while adapting to new trade patterns.

Integrated end-to-end solutions – expanding beyond ocean freight into air, intermodal, warehousing, and supply chain management, tailored to specific industry needs.

Data and technology leadership – using AI, analytics, and automation to create more responsive and efficient supply chains.

Scaling the energy transition – partnering with stakeholders through off-take agreements for lower emissions fuels such as bio and e-methanol, to decarbonise logistics and support the global flow of lower-GHG emissions solutions.

Greater China’s role in global trade is entering a new phase – more complex, more interconnected, and more technology-driven. For logistics providers with the right network, capabilities, and vision, this evolution represents not just a challenge, but one of the most significant growth opportunities of the decade.

Be ready to strengthen your supply chain to go all the way! Discover more with Maersk Logistics Insights and learn more about international shipping in Asia Pacific. Or for more logistics trends and insights, read and download The Logistics Trend Map.