Singapore Bunker Supply Continues to Run Down as Middle East War Drags On
Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub, sold 56.2 million metric tons of bunker fuel in 2025, a 3.2% increase year‑over‑year. Over half of its fuel imports travel through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the Middle East war began on Feb 28, 2026. With the waterway shut, analysts warn that less than a month’s supply remains in Singapore and no immediate replenishment is expected. Despite the shortage, the hub continues to refuel ships, but the ticking inventory raises concerns for global shipping costs.
Montreal Shippers Get New North-South Service From CMA CGM
Canadian shippers will gain a new north‑south maritime link as CMA CGM adds the Port of Montreal to its Homere service, scheduled to call the Cast Terminal on April 5. The 1,713‑TEU vessel joins the carrier’s Cagema rotation, linking Montreal with Caribbean...
India Delays Cabotage Rewind Plan Amid Carrier Pressure, Middle East Reroutings
India’s Ministry of Ports & Shipping announced a six‑month postponement of the cabotage policy that would have ended foreign‑flag vessels’ right to operate coastal shipping routes. The original rule, introduced in 2018, aimed to force domestic operators to handle intra‑country...
Appeals Court Upholds FMC Rules on Carrier Refusal-to-Deal, Export Policies
The D.C. Court of Appeals upheld the Federal Maritime Commission's authority to investigate ocean carriers' export policies and freight rates under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. The court rejected the World Shipping Council's challenge to the law's refusal‑to‑deal...
Salalah Disruptions Send Carriers on Indian Trades Back to Adding Pakistan Calls
Operations at Oman’s Salalah port were suspended after a drone strike on Saturday, forcing a gradual restart this week. The disruption compounds existing schedule pressures from the broader Middle East crisis, prompting major carriers such as Maersk and Hapag‑Lloyd to...
Industry Faces Trickle Down Pivot as Largest Ocean Carriers Continue to Grow
Hapag‑Lloyd is pursuing a takeover of Zim Integrated Shipping Services, a move that would further cement the dominance of the world’s largest ocean carriers. The biggest players are not only expanding fleet size but also buying terminals and building feeder...
MPV Operators Face Worsening Bunker Fuel Supply Crisis as Stocks Tighten
Multipurpose vessel (MPV) operators are confronting a deepening bunker fuel shortage as the Middle East conflict disrupts supply chains across key hubs, including the Middle East, Asia and South Africa. Prices for low‑sulfur marine gas oil (LSMGO) and very low...
Multipurpose Vessel Ordering Spree Continues with Raft of New Deals
Breakbulk vessel operators are accelerating their multipurpose vessel (MPV) orders with a series of contracts at Chinese shipyards despite geopolitical uncertainty. AAL Shipping secured two additional 32,000‑dwt Super B‑class ships, bringing its fleet to ten, while DS Norden added two 23,000‑dwt...
ONE Adds to Asian Terminal Holdings with Laem Chabang Deal
Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced the purchase of a 30% stake in Hutchison Laemchabang Terminal Limited, Thailand’s largest marine terminal operator, from Hutchison Ports. The deal’s financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition adds to a series of recent Asian...
Hormuz Closure Triggers ‘Havoc’ for Project Logistics Supply Chain
The near‑total closure of the Strait of Hormuz has slashed vessel transits by 97% in the past 25 days, halting all traffic on March 25. The paralysis is driving sky‑high insurance premiums, causing carriers to refuse quotes for cargo entering the...
Port of Savannah’s Container Stevedore Picks New President
The Port of Savannah’s container stevedore, Gateway Terminals, announced Bryan Blalock as its new president effective April 13, succeeding Kevin Price, who will become the Georgia Ports Authority chief executive in mid‑2027. Blalock brings a diverse background in maintenance, repair and...
War Adding $40-$50 Million per Week to Hapag-Lloyd's Costs: CEO
The Middle East conflict is inflating Hapag‑Lloyd’s operating costs by roughly $40 million to $50 million each week, according to CEO Rolf Habben Jansen. The surge stems primarily from higher bunker fuel prices, with insurance, container storage and inland transport also adding millions....
Bunker Fuel Shortages in Asia at Tipping Point as War Disruption Continues
Asian ocean carriers are currently managing bunker fuel supplies, but tightening inventories signal a looming shortage if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. Global fuel suppliers warn that prolonged closure could trigger worldwide deficits. To cushion the impact, operators are...
US Resin Shippers Look to Tap New Customers Amid Iran War
U.S. resin exporters are seeing a surge in container bookings as the Iran‑Israel conflict disrupts the Middle East’s dominant plastics supply chain. On March 16, Vizion recorded 6,191 daily export bookings, nearly double the 3,500‑4,500 range typical for 2026. The first...
Hurdles in Persian Gulf Test Carriers Moving Stranded Asian Cargo From India
Container lines are scrambling to move 40,000‑50,000 TEUs that have been temporarily stored at Indian ports toward the Middle East. Nhava Sheva alone has discharged roughly 25,000 TEUs, creating a bottleneck as carriers seek shuttle capacity at Gulf gateways. Alternative...
Middle East War Will ‘Amplify’ Volatility in Global Supply Chains: Cosco
Cosco Shipping warned that the ongoing war in the Middle East will heighten volatility across global supply chains and speed up regionalization and nearshoring trends in 2026. The liner‑shipping and terminal operator highlighted weak macro‑economic momentum and a severe external...
Virginia’s Deeper Harbor Could Allow Higher Usage on ULCVs
Virginia Port Authority completed a dredging project deepening Norfolk Harbor to 55 feet, making it the deepest East Coast port. The added five feet of depth and channel widening enable two‑way traffic and better accommodate ultra‑large container vessels (ULCVs). Final...
Reefer Shippers Play Waiting Game with Boxes Stuck Outside Persian Gulf
Cold‑chain carriers are forced to pause reefer movements to the Middle East after the war erupted on Feb. 28, leaving containers stranded at ports outside the Persian Gulf. Ocean carriers have suspended acceptance of refrigerated, dangerous and special cargo in the...
Hapag-Lloyd to Invest $1 Billion Across Indian Maritime Verticals
German carrier Hapag‑Lloyd announced a $1 billion investment programme to expand its presence in India’s maritime sector. The plan includes re‑flagging four container ships to the Indian registry and taking a stake in the Vadhavan deep‑water harbour project north of Mumbai....
APM Terminals to Build $1.8 Billion Terminal in Da Nang
APM Terminals and Vietnam’s Hateco Group have secured a 50‑year concession to build the $1.8 billion Lieu Chieu container terminal in Da Nang. The facility will handle up to 5.7 million TEUs annually, with the first two berths slated for 2028 and full completion...
Ocean Shipping Patterns Erode Intermodal Share From West Coast: Analyst
A new analyst report shows the West Coast’s share of U.S. and Western Canadian import TEUs has slipped from 59% in 2010 to below 49% in 2025, marking a ten‑point decline. The drop mirrors a broader erosion of intermodal rail’s...
Trans-Pacific Contract Talks Accelerating After Walmart Signs
Walmart has finalized its 2026‑27 trans‑Pacific shipping contracts with six major carriers, prompting container lines to resume stalled negotiations. The war in the Middle East had paused talks, but carriers now urge importers to lock in space allocations before the...
Rail and Ocean Carriers Consolidating Shipping Infrastructure: Analyst
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are pushing an $85 billion merger that would combine UP’s western rail network with NS’s eastern system, covering 43 states. The Surface Transportation Board rejected their initial filing in January, prompting the carriers to prepare a...
Asia-Europe Air Cargo Space Tightens as Rates, Fuel Surcharges Soar
Air freight between Asia and Europe is tightening as the US‑Iran war curtails Middle‑East corridors, which handle roughly 30% of the trade lane. Simultaneously, jet fuel prices have doubled, prompting carriers to add steep fuel surcharges on top of already...
US Exports to Middle East in Limbo Amid War Zone Service Disruptions
US exporters are scrambling to locate containers shipped to the Middle East after ocean carriers halted almost all services due to the war with Iran. Mediterranean Shipping Company invoked an “end‑of‑voyage” clause for shipments bound for Dubai’s Jebel Ali, leaving cargo...
Ocean Carriers Employ Effective Capacity Management Despite Market Volatility
Ocean carriers have demonstrated effective capacity management by maintaining stable vessel utilization despite sharply volatile demand. The practice dates back to the 2008‑09 financial crisis when carriers laid up roughly 10% of global tonnage to rebalance supply. A recent Maersk...
Evergreen’s 2025 Profits Nearly Halved on Sharp Freight Rate Declines
Evergreen Marine reported a 48% drop in 2025 net profit, falling to $2.2 billion from $4.2 billion a year earlier. Revenue also slipped 18% to $12.2 billion, down from $15 billion in 2024, as freight rates weakened sharply. The carrier disclosed it is spending...
Middle East Shipping Disruptions Boost US Position as Top LNG Exporter
Historic shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have halted roughly 20% of global LNG flow, prompting buyers to seek alternatives. The United States, already the world’s largest LNG exporter, is set to nearly double its export capacity by 2031,...
Volatile Shipping Market Drags Down OOCL’s 2025 Financial Results
OOCL’s 2025 results were hit by a volatile shipping market, heightened trade tensions and new US tariffs. Revenue slipped 9.3% year‑over‑year to $9.7 billion, while EBIT and net profit plunged 42% and 41% respectively, each landing at $1.5 billion. Despite the earnings...
As War Rages, Multimodal Demand Surges on Asia-Europe Landbridge
Major ocean carriers are rerouting Gulf‑bound cargo to land‑based corridors after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed by the ongoing war. Maersk now ships to Salalah, Khor Fakkan and Jeddah, then secures trucking capacity to move goods into the Persian...
Maersk Forced to Ship Fuel From US, Europe as Asia Bunkers Start to Run Dry
Maersk has begun sourcing marine fuel from the United States and Europe to supply its Asian fleet, after recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz left key Middle‑East and Asian bunkering hubs unable to meet demand. Chief commercial officer Karsten...
China, India Warn Carriers on Higher Pricing Tied to Middle East Conflict
Chinese and Indian transport ministries have publicly warned major container carriers, including Maersk and MSC, against imposing excessive surcharges linked to the Middle East war. The regulators highlighted concerns over service suspensions to the region and fee hikes running into...
LA Terminals to Extend Gates to Mitigate Disruption During Bridge Closure
Port and marine terminal leaders in Los Angeles announced a mitigation plan as Caltrans prepares to close the 63‑year‑old Vincent Thomas Bridge for a two‑year redecking project. The bridge, which carries roughly 53,000 vehicles daily—including 3,400 heavy‑duty trucks—will be closed...
Reform HMT Rather than Taxing Shipping More: Analyst
Transportation policy analyst Jay Derr argues that the Trump administration’s plan to impose a universal fee on foreign‑built vessels would effectively double‑tax ships already subject to the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT). The existing HMT, collected from all vessels entering U.S....
Montreal Terminal Operator Signs Deal with Striking Office Workers
Montreal Gateway Terminals (MGT) reached a new collective bargaining agreement with CUPE Local 4317, ending a five‑month strike by its clerical workforce. The strike, which began in September, halted operations at MGT’s Cast and Racine terminals, affecting cargo handling across...
CMA CGM Sets Chinese Volume Record with Shanghai Biomethanol Bunkering
CMA CGM completed its first biomethanol bunkering at Shanghai’s Yangshan terminal, loading 3,643 tons of renewable fuel onto the 13,000‑TEU CMA CGM Osmium. The operation set a Chinese record for the largest single biomethanol bunkering move at a port. Fuel was supplied by Shanghai...
CMA CGM Preps for Challenging Year After 2025 Revenue, Profit Decline
Container shipping giant CMA CGM warned that its 2025 revenue and profit will fall, signalling a tougher outlook for the sector. The company projects only moderate growth in 2026, with freight rates likely to be influenced by escalating tensions in the...
CMA CGM Expects Moderate Growth After 2025 Revenue, Profit Decline
CMA CGM reported a 6% revenue decline to $34.3 billion and a 30% EBITDA drop to $7.9 billion for 2025. Despite the profit slump, the carrier forecasts moderate growth in 2026, relying on diversified services, flexible networks, and strong balance sheets. It highlighted...
Gemini Suspends, Revamps Middle East Services Amid Growing Conflict
Gemini Cooperation announced the suspension of several Middle East services, including routes to Europe and Asia, as well as regional shuttle operations, citing the escalating war in the Gulf. The alliance, which includes Maersk and Hapag‑Lloyd, is launching a new...
CMA CGM Adds Direct India-USWC String as Part of Asia Network Overhaul
CMA CGM announced a new standalone service linking India directly to the U.S. West Coast, extending its Pearl River Express loop. The weekly rotation will call at Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Karachi and Colombo, using a fleet of 13 vessels sized between 10,000...
Intercontinental Exchange to Launch Container Freight Futures in April
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) announced plans to launch four container freight futures contracts on April 7, pending regulatory approval. The contracts will be U.S.-denominated, cash‑settled, and indexed to the New York Shipping Exchange’s Freight Indices covering routes between Asia, Europe and the United States....
TPM26: War a Problem for Container Shipping, but Not ‘Pandemic-Scale’: Analyst
Analyst Lars Jensen told the TPM 26 conference that the Middle‑East war, which has shut the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, poses a problem for container shipping but falls short of pandemic‑scale disruption. He emphasized that while the conflict will...
TPM26: Europe’s Persistent Port Congestion Won’t Be Remedied by Short-Term Fixes
Europe’s main import gateways suffer from chronic buffer‑capacity shortages, turning port congestion into a persistent bottleneck rather than a fleeting disruption. Industry leaders warn that the lack of short‑term remedies will continue to erode vessel schedule reliability and strain inventory...
Middle East War Puts Trans-Pacific Service Contract Talks in Limbo
Container lines have halted 2026‑27 trans‑Pacific service contract negotiations as the Middle East war ties up roughly 10% of global container tonnage and pushes bunker fuel prices higher. The conflict adds uncertainty to cost structures and functional capacity, prompting carriers...
Middle East War Slows Trans-Pacific Service Contract Talks Further
Container carriers are pausing or slowing 2026‑27 trans‑Pacific service contract negotiations as they gauge the fallout from the Middle East war. The conflict has immobilized an estimated 2 %‑10 % of global container tonnage, tightening available capacity. Simultaneously, soaring bunker fuel prices...
TPM26: US Trucking Crackdown Likely to Have Delayed Impact on Drayage Sector
A congressional proposal known as Delilah’s Law would strip thousands of non‑English‑speaking and non‑domiciled commercial driver’s license holders from U.S. roads, intensifying a broader Trump‑era trucking crackdown. Panelists at TPM26 argued that the drayage sector, especially at ports like Long Beach,...
TPM26: Buffer Capacity Being Taken Out of Gemini Network: Hapag-Lloyd CEO
Gemini’s ocean alliance has sustained roughly 90% schedule reliability, allowing Hapag‑Lloyd to trim the buffer capacity built into its 2025 service. The carrier says the reduction yields faster, more competitive transit times without sacrificing predictability. Shippers such as Dollar General and...
TPM26: Flexport CEO Sees AI’s Impact on Logistics Accelerating
Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen announced that artificial‑intelligence tools can trim roughly 10% off the back‑office component of ocean freight costs, enabling logistics firms to scale without proportionate hiring. He revealed that Flexport entered a "code red" mode in November 2025,...
TPM26: Global Trade ‘Still Strong’ Despite Uncertainties: Hellmann CEO
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics CEO Jens Drewes told the TPM26 conference that global ocean freight volumes remain robust despite heightened geopolitical risks, including ongoing trade tensions and the expanding Middle East conflict. He highlighted continued strength in worldwide trade and pointed...
Air Freight Backlog Set to Gridlock Asia Airports Amid Middle East Conflict: K+N CEO
Air cargo originating in Asia for the US and Europe will soon pile up at regional airports as the expanding Middle East conflict grounds a sizable share of available capacity. Kuehne + Nagel CEO Stefan Paul warned that backlogs will materialise by...