News

With attacks on commercial shipping continuing around Yemen, it might seem surprising that some of the world’s largest container carriers are beginning to increase their use of the Suez Canal.

Severe weather continues to disrupt shipping and port operations across the Far East this year, with Typhoon Dolphin making landfall in China’s Zhejiang province yesterday.

Shipping capacity through the Panama Canal is being restricted as authorities prepare for the potential impact of a strengthening El Niño weather pattern.

With the blanket 10% US tariff on global imports due to expire tomorrow, American trade is approaching another period of uncertainty.

The Strait of Hormuz has once again become the focal point of global shipping disruption following a significant escalation in military activity.

Pressure is building across global container networks as ports in several key regions struggle with rising vessel delays and cargo backlogs. Port congestion is disrupting major trade routes and adding another layer of complexity to already stretched supply chains.

A planned operation by the IMO to evacuate ships and seafarers from the Gulf has been suspended following a sharp increase in military operations around the Strait of Hormuz.

Asia-Europe ocean freight rates are on the rise again, with major carrier networks announcing a General Rate Increase from July 1st.

Reports of a framework agreement between the United States and Iran, coupled with expectations that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen on Friday, have already influenced commodity markets.

Following a period of relatively subdued demand, ocean freight markets are now showing clear signs of an early peak season, particularly across major export routes from Asia.

Ocean freight prices seem set to climb once again as global shipping carriers prepare a fresh round of rate increases ahead of the busy peak season in Asia.

The legal fight over President Trump’s current tariff measures has intensified, injecting fresh uncertainty into an already fragile global trading landscape.

Container shipping lines on the Asia–Europe trade are beginning to restrict available capacity ahead of the traditional summer peak season, with carriers increasingly relying on blank sailings to manage supply and support freight rates.

A missile strike hit a CMA CGM containership in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, leaving several crew members injured amid worsening instability in the region.

Oil markets are once again trending upward as negotiations between the US and Iran show little sign of progress.

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated after two MSC containerships were intercepted by Iranian forces while attempting to leave the waterway.

The US officially launched its tariff refund process as of Monday, April 20, offering relief to businesses affected by duties previously imposed under President Trump’s emergency powers.

Air freight rates are continuing to climb as many carriers worldwide look to adjust their networks in response to a sharp increase in jet fuel prices and ongoing geopolitical instability.

Donald Trump’s latest attempt to reshape U.S. trade policy is once again under legal pressure. After the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping “Liberty Day” tariffs, the president introduced a new set of duties—only to find them now facing fresh challenges.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is continuing to have an impact on global logistics, and the situation remains highly dynamic. In short, the biggest disruptions so far are in fuel-related costs and air freight capacity. Herewith an overview of the current position.

Transport operators across the UK have introduced new or increased fuel surcharges to existing distribution tariffs as diesel prices continue to climb, many of which have already come into effect.

The increasing escalation of conflict in the Middle East is creating immediate disruption across global logistics networks, with both air and ocean freight services being affected.

President Trump has unveiled a blanket 15 percent tariff on imports from around the world, escalating his trade offensive immediately after the US Supreme Court struck down much of his tariff policy.

Ocean carriers have once again announced a wave of cancelled sailings as post–Chinese New Year is showing signs of low demand.

The White House unveiled a sweeping Maritime Action Plan (MAP) on Friday that leaves industry stakeholders facing considerable uncertainty.

This month, February 17th, will mark Chinese New Year’s Day and the official start of the two-week celebration that temporarily pauses export production in China, as most factories and businesses close for the fortnight.

London Gateway is fast emerging as a serious challenger to Felixstowe’s long-held status as the UK’s largest container port, after delivering a landmark performance in 2025 that appears to have significantly narrowed the gap between the two hubs.

Uncertainty still surrounds President Donald Trump’s trade policy as the US Supreme Court delays a crucial ruling on the legality of his sweeping tariff regime.

Maersk Line has become the first major carrier to fully reinstate a complete service via the Suez Canal as security conditions in the Red Sea show signs of improvement.

President Trump has confirmed a 25 percent tariff on imports from any country that continues to trade with Iran, while Tehran threatens shipping centres.

From 1 January 2026, tougher EU border security rules will apply to all goods moving from the UK into the EU.

Two leading container lines have confirmed that selected eastbound sailings from Europe to Asia will once again transiting the Suez Canal and Red Sea.

In the recent Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced that the government will abolish the UK’s existing de minimis threshold — the rule that currently allows low-value items to enter the country free of customs duty.

As we near the end of another year, its time to share our Holiday season business hours.

As the logistics sector rapidly moves toward 2026, port congestion remains a persistent challenge for global supply chain operations despite some recent signs of relief.

The European Union is preparing to abolish its long-standing de minimis rule for low-value imports, a change that could significantly alter its international e-commerce patterns.

This month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the Trump administration’s appeal of two lower-court decisions that found its expansive tariff program unlawful.

In a significant milestone for global ocean freight, an Ultra Large Container Vessel (ULCV) has successfully completed a Red Sea transit for the first time in nearly two years.

President Trump’s trade policy received a boost this week as the US signed a series of trade frameworks with Asian nations and moved closer to finalising a deal with China.

Although a ceasefire has taken hold in the Middle East, the likelihood of reopening key Asia–Europe shipping corridors through the Red Sea remains slim.

A series of strikes sweeping across Northern Europe is severely disrupting freight routes and worsening congestion at three of the region’s busiest ports.

The US government shutdown has now been in effect for a week, with the country’s airports facing increasing disruption due to shortages of air traffic controllers.

Logistics operations across Southern China are facing major disruptions in the wake of Super Typhoon Ragasa, which battered Guangdong province and the Pearl River Delta earlier this week.

China’s Golden Week holiday kicks off next week, beginning with the country’s official National Day on Wednesday, October 1st.

New penalties from the USTR targeting Chinese-built ships will come into force from October 14th, though uncertainty lingers over whether shippers will feel the impact.

President Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to urgently review a federal appeals court decision that struck down most of the tariffs enacted during his administration.

Industry analysts are cautioning that shipping lines may be forced into a round of last-minute capacity cuts on Asia trades as China’s Golden Week holiday approaches.

North Europe’s major container ports remain under significant strain as peak season cargo from Asia collides with already overstretched terminal operations.

After months of turbulence sparked by President Trump’s tariff policies, signs suggest that global trade tensions are beginning to ease, for now.

Houthi rebels have recently announced the escalation of their attacks on merchant ships, reversing their earlier decision in May to suspend assaults on commercial shipping.