Clarksons Research profiles Greek shipping as Posidonia 2026 opens

For the bi-annual Posidonia event, Clarksons Research has profiled the position of the Greek market and the hugely important role it plays in shipping. 

Despite highly dynamic shipping markets frequently at the ‘frontline’ of unprecedented global events, the strength of the Greek shipping community and its ability to manage and leverage the risks and opportunities that are building in shipping markets remains hugely impressive.

Profiling key statistics from the company’s report, Steve Gordon of Clarksons Research commented:

Greek shipping companies play a remarkable and crucial role in global shipping, owning 14% (17%) of global tonnage by GT (DWT) and over a fifth of all tankers, bulkers and LNG carriers. Strong positions in ‘dry’ (21% of fleet capacity, ranked second after China) and "wet" (also 21%, ranked first) are the long-standing pillars of Greek shipping. A strategic growth into gas in the last decade, well timed given the growth in volumes, has seen Greek companies capture a market leading 17% share of tonnage and provided further Greek scale across ‘energy’ shipping (nearly one quarter). Containers has been another area of diversification, albeit less significant and, with liner companies growing their ownership of ‘steel’, Greek market share has actually dropped (from 10% to 6% last ten years).

There have been notable other investments (e.g. car carrier, offshore) and an active local ferry market, but on balance Greek activity has focused on bulkers, tankers and gas.

Today the Clarksons Research database tracks over ~700 Greek shipping companies and while the average company still only has 8 ships there are an increasing number of large companies (today 19 companies with over 50 ships in fleet vs only 5 in 2010).

The ten largest Greek companies by tonnage ‘on the water’ (alone controlling 5% of the world fleet) are Angelicoussis Group, Dynacom, Cardiff Marine, Navios Holdings, Star Bulk Carriers, Alpha Tankers, Thenamaris, Tsakos Group, Marmaras Navigation and Minerva Marine. Capital Maritime followed by Dynacom have the largest orderbook (the $75bn of current Greek orderbook investment is more consolidated around a smaller number of large companies).

Many of the reasons behind Greek success that C;larksons Research profiled two years ago remain valid: strong cash positions (certainly up on the last Posidonia given the length and depth of the current cycle) and low leverage, intuitive timing across market cycles (most, if not all the time!), quick and nimble decision making, heritage and improved management of sometimes tricky generational change, the scale and excellence of its ‘cluster’ of commercial and technical expertise, strong and long term customer relationships, flexibility and adaptability.

And while other clusters benefit from proximity to cargo, shipbuilding capacity, major liner companies and finance (albeit local Greek banks are now far more active), the Greek market achieves scale as the ultimate ‘cross trader’ (Greek imports are <1% of global, vs 25% for China).

Interestingly, in the first four months of 2026, Greek companies have been the top newbuilding investors and the largest seller of S&P tonnage. Besides the newbuild focus, there has also been a practical but committed approach to the green agenda: the average age of the Greek fleet is now below the global average, there has been investment in alternative fuels and an embracing of Energy Saving Technologies.

Enjoy Posidonia and don't forget to raise a glass to the remarkable (and crucial to global trade) Greek shipping community!