Daily Update — June 11 2025
Maritime Decarbonization; US Economic Forecast; and Integrating AI into IT
Today is Wednesday, June 11, 2025, and here’s your curated selection of Essential Intelligence on global markets from S&P Global. Subscribe to be notified of each new Daily Update.
Energy Transition & Sustainability
Regulation sparks muted optimism for marine decarbonization
Recent regulations have modestly boosted maritime decarbonization efforts as the shipping industry faces challenges from high renewable fuel prices and seeks to distribute financial responsibilities. In April, the International Maritime Organization voted on global greenhouse gas standards for marine energy, aiming for net-zero shipping by 2050. This marks a significant regulatory step, as it’s the first time costs were imposed on emissions across the sector.
The IMO's fuel standards, expected to be adopted in October and implemented by 2028, will introduce life cycle greenhouse gas intensity thresholds that will be gradually reduced until at least 2035, accompanied by penalties and a carbon trading mechanism. However, there remains a substantial price disparity. The average bunker price for very low sulfur fuel oil in April was US$493.62 per metric ton in Singapore — the world’s largest bunker port — compared to US$1,886.55 per metric ton for 100% sustainable methanol.
Economy
Listen: Reduced Speed Ahead: Outlook for the US Economy
In this episode of “The Decisive” podcast, host Alyssa Grzelak shares highlights from S&P Global Market Intelligence’s May 20 US macroeconomic webinar, featuring expert commentary from our economics team. The US economy is forecast to slow, with growth projected to average just 0.8% per quarter in 2025, raising concerns about a potential recession. We explain the anatomy of a recession, looking at recent examples, and share our outlook.
Our economists also discuss the implications of elevated tariffs, which are contributing to inflation and reshaping business investment decisions. The Federal Reserve's cautious approach amid policy uncertainty is also explored, with expectations for a pause in rate adjustments until late 2026.
Artificial Intelligence
451 IT Insider: A roundup for IT decision-makers
AI is transforming enterprise workflows by introducing new capabilities, but it faces significant implementation challenges. Generative AI excels in code generation as well as enhancing productivity and accessibility for nondevelopers through natural language interfaces. However, the rate of genAI projects failing to reach production is high due to the risks typical of early-stage technologies and the pressure of having to deliver quick results.
Integrating AI into cybersecurity and IT operations also complicates management. To address this, IT leaders are turning to AI-powered automation platforms that centralize control and improve collaboration, enabling real-time decision-making and faster issue resolution. Success with AI requires balancing its potential with strong security and operational efficiency, positioning IT leaders to drive the next wave of digital transformation.
In case you missed it
- Investors are showing interest in certain emerging markets in Latin America, Southeast Asia and India, which could benefit from supply chain rearrangements influenced by changes in global trade dynamics.
- The median risk of default for publicly traded US companies rose across most sectors from the end of March through the end of May, a tumultuous two months for markets as investors assessed the potential effects of US tariffs and subsequent developments in global trade.
- Japanese refiner Taiyo Oil took a cargo of Sakhalin Blend crude, the country's first delivery of Russian oil since early 2023, to support stable LNG supplies from the related Sakhalin 2 project that provides about 10% of Japan's LNG needs.
Upcoming events
- Economic Outlook and Customer Credit Risk: How Companies Can Navigate Trade Shifts in 2025 | June 12 (Webinar)
- Risk to Resilience: How Technology is Reinventing Urban Preparedness | June 12 (Webinar)
- Sustainable Finance in Private Markets | June 12 (Webinar)