The U.S. trade deficit widened to $70.3 billion in December, pushing the full-year 2025 shortfall to $901.5 billion despite months of tariff-driven volatility. Imports rose 3.6% while exports slipped 1.7%, with swings in gold, pharmaceuticals, and computer equipment distorting monthly figures.

Donald Trump’s trade levies aren’t the main reason why China is exporting more to other parts of the world, a European Central Bank study showed.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez on Wednesday that Moscow was urging the U.S. not to impose a full naval blockade on the communist-run island and was advocating negotiations instead.

The most extensive sea ice in 15 years around Russia’s key Baltic Sea commodity ports could curb a chunk of the nation’s vast exports program because of a shortage of vessels that can cope with the conditions.

France released the seized oil tanker GRINCH after imposing a multi-million euro penalty on the vessel's owner for suspected involvement in Russia's shadow fleet evading European oil sanctions.

Parts of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil-shipping lanes, will be closed for “several hours” on Tuesday as part of Iran’s military drills, state TV in the Islamic Republic reported.

Russia could deploy its navy to prevent European powers from seizing its vessels and may retaliate against European shipping if Russian ships are taken, Nikolai Patrushev, one of Russia's leading hardliners, was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Ship traffic in the Arctic reached a new milestone in 2025, with 1,812 unique vessels operating inside the Polar Code area, according to new data released by the Arctic Council Working Group on the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME). The figures mark a 40% increase from 2013, when PAME began tracking traffic through its Arctic Ship Traffic Data (ASTD) system.

Russia has dispatched two powerful icebreakers, including a nuclear-powered vessel, from Arctic waters to the Baltic Sea to help keep shipping lanes open as one of the harshest ice seasons in more than a decade disrupts traffic across northern Europe.

Operations at the floating LNG import facility Mukran off the Baltic coast of Germany resumed this week after icebreaking efforts by the multipurpose vessel Neuwerk restored access to open water following weeks of disruption caused by heavy sea ice in the bay off Mukran.

A niche but crucial part of the oil market is being rocked by a huge bet from a South Korean tycoon who has amassed a large share of the tanker market — with help from one of the industry’s wealthiest men.

Container shipping group Hapag-Lloyd HLAG.DE said it is in advanced negotiations to acquire Israeli rival ZIM Integrated Shipping Services ZIM.N, a deal that would consolidate its position as one of the world's biggest ocean shipping companies.