Daily Update — October 1, 2026
Shipping’s Slow Decarbonization; Q4 Global Outlook; and AI Risks for Casualty Insurers
Today is Thursday, October 1, 2026, 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 Expansion
Shipping companies face slow low-carbon bunker transition
Major shipping companies have reduced their operations’ greenhouse gas emissions intensity but are struggling to cut emissions in absolute terms. The world's top 10 maritime companies by market capitalization — all of which have some degree of net-zero targets by 2050 or earlier — reported rising overall emissions in 2025 despite long-term declines in transport-related GHGs.
The development came as many ships consumed more fuel after taking longer routes amid geopolitical conflicts, even as vessel operators invested in energy-efficiency measures that could yield healthy financial returns in a bullish oil market.
"With longer distances, the emissions per ton-mile goes down, but the total emissions of course go up," Tore Longva, decarbonization director at classification society and maritime advisory DNV, told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy. "A lot of the low-hanging energy efficiency measures are implemented ... but a 25% further energy efficiency improvement is [still] possible towards 2050. Ultimately, however, low-GHG fuels will be needed to reach net-zero."
Economy
Global Economic Outlook Q4 2026: Resilient Growth Drives Rates Higher
Economies around the world continue to respond to large, opposing shocks, according to S&P Global Ratings, with negative shocks to the supply side and positive ones for demand. At a conceptual level, the net effect of these shocks will result in higher prices. For output, the net effect is more ambiguous and will depend on the relative magnitudes of the opposing shocks. If the positive effects outweigh the negative ones, output will rise.
Specifically, the supply-side shocks to energy markets from disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, plus the lingering effects of tariff and policy uncertainty, are lowering output across many economies. On the demand side, shocks have been positive. AI-related spending is pushing output higher. This is most visible in the data for business investment in the US and tech exports from Taiwan and South Korea.
Artificial Intelligence
Why The AI Boom And Social Inflation Are Emerging As Key Risks For US Casualty Insurers
The multitrillion-dollar AI infrastructure build-out will test insurers' capacity to manage casualty risk. The central credit question is whether insurers are being adequately compensated for their exposure.
Estimating long-tail casualty liabilities is becoming more difficult due to a shifting legal environment, predominantly in the US, where actual losses can exceed expected losses. Insurers are absorbing escalating costs from litigation and other unexpected losses from insurance policies written many years ago.
In case you missed it
- Port disbursement account costs fell across India's major crude ports in the first half of 2026 amid differing crude trade volumes at individual locations.
- The EU is securing imports of critical raw materials and mineral products through trade agreements, with preferential partners supplying 25% of the bloc's critical raw materials imports, the European Commission said.
- The allocation of frequency licensing for the Asia-Pacific wireless industry has been constant in recent years, strengthening the region's digital economy, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan.
Upcoming events
- Annual Cyber Spotlight | October 6 (Webinar)
- Global Credit Conditions Q4 2026: Eroding Immunity | October 7 (Webinar)
- AI Infrastructure Boom and Backlash | October 7 (Webinar)