This document provides an introduction to the shipping industry. It discusses that shipping transports over 90% of world trade by sea, making it essential for international trade. The shipping industry consists of over 50,000 merchant ships from over 150 countries, crewed by over a million seafarers. Practitioners in the shipping industry include ship operators, charterers, brokers, and port managers. Demand for shipping depends on economic activity and trade volumes, while supply is affected by commodity demand, freight rates, and new ship deliveries versus scrap rates.