The University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Blue Economy Index (Bloomberg Ticker: BLUEECO) ended 2025 on an upswing, rising 3.15% in December.
The index increased from 2,557.57 to 2,638.17 and outperformed major global benchmarks, such as the S&P Industrials, which rose 2.66%; the MSCI All World Index, which increased 1.35%; and the S&P 500 at only a 0.48% increase.
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“December’s performance reflected renewed strength across consumer-facing and industrial segments tied to marine travel, logistics, and sustainable infrastructure,” according to the announcement from UNCW. “December’s advance was driven by improved investor sentiment, particularly across travel, leisure, and transportation-linked equities, as easing macro uncertainty and resilient consumer demand supported risk appetite. Increased holiday-season activity and improving visibility into 2026 demand trends contributed to a broad recovery across blue-economy exposures.”
UNCW said the index’s performance relative to global benchmarks shows how BLUEECO’s diversified composition, which includes both marine tourism and industrial and infrastructure-driven growth.
The UNC Wilmington Blue Economy Index tracks the economic activity of companies operating within oceans and waterways, with a focus on environmental sustainability. It was developed through a collaboration between UNC Wilmington’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), the Alliance for the Blue Economy (AllBlue), the Cameron School of Business and is powered by data from FactSet.
The collaborators said that, “as coastal populations grow and marine industries expand, the index offers investors a timely and transparent benchmark for evaluating the sustainable growth potential of ocean-based sectors such as shipping, offshore energy, aquaculture, and marine infrastructure.”
The index follows the World Bank’s definition of the Blue Economy: “the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem” — the index is composed of leading global companies that demonstrate both commercial viability and environmental responsibility.”
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