In January 2026, CMAC published its 2025 Review (also available at CMAC website). The highlights are as follows:

1. Case Statistics

CMAC accepted 257 new filings, with a 7.53% year-on-year increase. Among them, 84 cases were foreign-related, accounting for 32.68%, involving 40 jurisdictions, while maritime cases totaled 198, constituting 76.65% of the caseload. The data indicates not only a quantitative increase but also a sustained high proportion of foreign-related and maritime cases, reflecting a continuously accelerating level of internationalization.

Cases related to “transportation and logistics in the broad sense” such as multi-modal transportation and franchise partnership cases proliferated whilst a discernible uptick in non-marine cases such as construction project and equity transfer cases reflected a more diversified and optimized case portfolio and positive development trends.

The collaborations between CMAC, courts, and mediation institutions, characterized by a synergy between litigation, arbitration, and mediation, have significantly contributed to the diversity of CMAC’s dispute resolution services, positioning CMAC as a burgeoning service provider in this domain.

2. Service Innovation

Based on its pioneering experience in ad hoc arbitration, CMAC issued the “Guangdong FTZs Ad Hoc Arbitration Guidelines” and “Yunnan FTZs Ad Hoc Arbitration Guidelines”, further promoting the development of ad hoc arbitration in FTZs of mainland China. CMAC collaborated with the Tianjin and Beihai Maritime Courts, as well as the Zhoushan Maritime Safety Administration, to establish circuit hearing center or “entrusted mediation” mechanism, promoting diversified dispute resolution.

Working in tandem with PICC Group and the Shanghai Marine Insurance Association, CMAC released the Model Arbitration Clause for Insurance Contracts, thereby offering a model for dispute resolution within the insurance industry. CMAC, together with other institutions, jointly issued the “Guidelines for Diversified Resolution and Expedited Arbitration of Disputes in Bonded Marine Fuel Bunkering in China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone”, which answers the practical needs of market entities for efficient and diversified dispute resolution mechanisms.

3. Increased Influence

CMAC successfully hosted several high-profile flagship events in 2025, such as the China High-Level Dialogue on Maritime and Commercial Arbitration, the High-Level Symposium on Maritime Silk Road International Economics and Trade Arbitration, and the Northeast Asia International Commercial Dispute Resolution Summit, further fostering industry consensus and exploring development pathways.

CMAC also organized the “Rule of Law and Openness” parallel forum at the 2025 Global Business and Law Conference and took part in high-profile events including the China-Singapore International Commercial Dispute Resolution Conference and Business Conference on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development. With these outreaching events, CMAC actively promoted its brand and influence.

4. Expanded International Cooperation

CMAC signed cooperation agreements with the Vienna International Arbitration Center, the Swiss Arbitration Center, the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board and the Busan Bar Association. CMAC signed the “Response to Joint Declaration on Cooperation in Promoting International Commercial Dispute Prevention and Resolution” in collaboration with institutions including the Singapore International Arbitration Center, thereby deepening bilateral cooperation. Also, CMAC spearheaded the “Joint Initiative on Strengthening Legal Service Cooperation within BRICS and Promoting Healthy Global Economic Development” jointly issued by 10 dispute resolution institutions from the BRICS and Partner Countries, fostering a new multilateral arbitration cooperation mechanism in international arbitration.

CMAC regularly participated in the UNCITRAL Working Group Sessions, playing an active role in the making of international rules and promoting the representation of Chinese arbitration. CMAC delegations visited the United Kingdom, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, and South Korea, to enhance international arbitration cooperation and expand its global network in the international arbitration community.

5. Researches & Publications

CMAC offered professional consultation advice for the amendment of the PRC Arbitration Law and the PRC Maritime Code. CMAC published the “China Review of Maritime & Commercial Arbitration (Vol. 2)” and issued the China Maritime & Commercial Arbitration Newsletter in five languages, thereby promoting theoretical research and information dissemination.

CMAC released the “Collection of Typical Maritime Cases for Enterprises in FTZs” and the “Case Collection Involving Enterprises Going Global” to provide references for Chinese “going out” enterprises. In collaboration with the CCPIT Research Institute, CMAC published the report entitled “Maritime Arbitration Safeguarding Enterprise Participation in Global Supply Chains” to further analyze the role of maritime arbitration in supporting the global supply chain.

6. Talent Training

In 2025, CMAC regularly organized training programs for arbitrators and case managers to build professional capacity and emphasize ethical code. In collaboration with 12 domestic and foreign law schools, CMAC organized the 4th “CMAC CUP” Arbitration Essay Competition, accompanied by a seminar on foreign-related professionals training and legal career planning, and this serial event was widely attended by young students and legal practitioners.