Box Volumes Surge, but Instability Casts a Shadow
Global container volumes jumped to 15.04 m TEU in February, a 12‑13% year‑on‑year increase that outpaced the five‑year average despite the Chinese New Year lull. The surge coincided with a four‑point drop in the CTS Global Price Index to 74, suggesting capacity oversupply as freight rates soften. Regional data show Europe’s exports rebounding sharply while North America’s export volumes fell to their lowest level since early 2025. Analysts warn that geopolitical tensions and a fragile macro environment could temper growth for the rest of 2026.
DSV Cuts in Texas as Talk Mounts of Further Restructuring Ahead
DSV Contract Logistics filed a WARN Act notice indicating it will lay off 391 employees at its Wilmer, Texas distribution center. The cuts follow the loss of a major customer contract, prompting a complete cessation of operations at the site....
Feeders Still Dominate Newbuild Box Ship Orders
Feeder vessels continue to dominate newcontainer ship orders as major liners scale back on ultra‑large projects. Turkish provider Ya‑Sa Shipmanagement placed a $45 million pair of 3,100 TEU ships for delivery in late 2028, while China’s Zhonggu Logistics booked ten 1,800 TEU vessels...
Mediterranean Regional Feeder Networks Feeling the Strain Again
The east‑west Mediterranean feeder network is under renewed strain as Middle‑East tensions force ships to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, turning container circulation into the primary bottleneck. Reliance on West‑Mediterranean hubs such as Algeciras and Tanger Med has surged,...
How to Bypass the Strait of Hormuz with a Trucking Landbridge
The Loadstar interviewed Gaurav Biswas, CEO of TruKKer, about the surge in over‑land trucking routes that bypass the closed Strait of Hormuz. Since the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict began, TruKKer’s freight volumes have jumped roughly 30%, straining smaller Gulf ports that were...
‘Self-Healing’ Supply Chains on the Horizon, Driven by Disruption, Says Flexport
Flexport announced that AI‑driven "self‑healing" supply chains are moving from concept to reality. The company outlined three stages of autonomy: unified data, zero‑touch execution, and automated problem resolution. It highlighted ongoing development of a single source of truth, digital routing...
Return to Normal for Hormuz Could Be Months Away, Says DHL
Senior DHL Global Forwarding executive Tobias Maier warned that a return to normal ocean shipping through the Strait of Hormuz may take four to six months, even if the US‑Iran cease‑fire holds. Approximately 40 vessels remain trapped in the Arabian...
Freightos Pivots to AI as Cost Cuts Expose Profitability Challenge
Freightos announced a restructuring that will cut up to 15% of its workforce, roughly 50‑60 global roles, to tighten costs and accelerate its AI‑driven product strategy. The Nasdaq‑listed firm targets adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the end of 2026, relying on...
Analysis: ‘Cream-Skimming, Not Divorce’ – Amazon vs USPS
Amazon and the U.S. Postal Service have reached a tentative last‑mile handling deal that trims Amazon’s planned 66% cut in USPS volume to a more manageable 20% reduction. The agreement keeps roughly 33,000 post offices in Amazon’s delivery network, preserving...
The Loadstar Snapshot Ep. 3: Why Air Cargo Fuel Surcharges Are Splitting Apart
Air cargo fuel surcharges, previously clustered around HK$3‑4 per kilo (≈$0.38‑$0.51/kg), diverged sharply in March as jet‑fuel prices spiked. Cathay Cargo lifted its long‑haul surcharge to HK$12.9 per kilo (≈$1.65/kg), while Lufthansa Cargo, Atlas Air, Japan Airlines and China Airlines...
Kremlin Plotting Ban on Major Box Carriers Entering Russian Ports
The Kremlin is drafting a decree that would bar foreign‑owned container lines from calling at Russian ports unless they are majority Russian‑owned and prioritize sanctioned cargo. The draft specifically names CMA CGM, Maersk, OOCL and X‑Press Feeders as prohibited carriers. The...
Non-Operating Shipowners Regain Their Taste for Modern Box Ship Tonnage
Non‑operating shipowners (NOOs) have surged back into the new‑building market, expanding their combined orderbook to 1.8 m TEU—three times the level a year ago. Their owned fleet remains 2.3 m TEU smaller than in late 2020 after a wave of sales to carriers,...
CNBC: JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon Flags Risks in Geopolitics, AI and Private Markets
JP Morgan chief executive Jamie Dimon told CNBC that 2026’s macro backdrop is fraught with three intertwined threats: escalating geopolitical volatility, the rapid, unregulated expansion of artificial intelligence, and stretched valuations in private‑equity markets. He warned that heightened US‑China tensions and Middle‑East...
TSA Budget Cut Could Lead to Air Cargo Security Privatisation
The Trump administration is proposing to slash more than $1.5 bn from the TSA budget and cut roughly 9,400 positions. The cuts include a $52 m reduction and a push to shift security screening at smaller airports to private contractors. Industry leaders,...
Air Freight Rates Surge Ahead of Ceasefire, While Fuel Fears Cloud Outlook
Air freight rates kept climbing despite a two‑week Middle East ceasefire, with the Baltic Air Freight Index up 15.8% year‑on‑year and Asian lanes near 30% higher. The surge stems from a sudden 30% capacity loss on the Asia‑Europe corridor after...
‘Book Short, Stay Flexible’ as Ecommerce Evolution Looms
The EU will eliminate its de‑minimis exemption for e‑commerce parcels on July 1, prompting a pre‑deadline rush that could flood the Asia‑Europe air‑freight lane and push rates higher. Capacity is already tight because roughly one‑third of the route relies on Middle‑East...
Feelings Run High as HMM Seemingly Pushes for Move to Busan
South Korea’s flagship carrier HMM appointed three Busan‑based non‑executive directors at its recent AGM, intensifying concerns that the company will relocate its headquarters from Seoul to Busan as pledged by President Lee Jae‑myung. The HMM Land Workers’ Union filed a...
WiseTech CEO Zubin Appoo: Why Logistics Must Get Ahead of Major Events and Risk
WiseTech CEO Zubin Appoo warned that the March shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by the Middle East war, exposed how quickly supply chains can be crippled by geopolitical events. He noted that vessel transits collapsed from over a...
Mærsk in the Crosshairs: Hutchison Opens a New Legal Front over Panama
CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company has launched arbitration proceedings directly against APM Terminals, the terminal arm of Danish carrier Maersk, over the recent Panama Canal port transition. The claim now exceeds $2 billion, expanding beyond the original dispute with the Panamanian...
Container Fleet Growth Cools, but Charter Market Remains Hot
Global container fleet growth slowed in Q1 2026, with net capacity increasing only 0.8% and total TEU up 6.1% year‑on‑year. While deliveries eased, orders surged to 150 vessels, pushing the orderbook to 39% of the existing fleet and shifting focus...
Box Ship Hit by Missile After First CMA CGM Vessel Escapes Hormuz
A container ship was hit by a missile 25 nautical miles off Iran’s Kish Island, prompting safety concerns but no environmental damage. CMA CGM’s 5,500‑teu vessel, the Kribi, became the first western boxship to successfully navigate the Strait of Hormuz...
SeaLead Cuts Back as Iran Conflict and US Charges Hit Operations
SeaLead Shipping’s operational capacity has collapsed from a peak of 208,000 TEU in May 2025 to just 62,521 TEU across 14 vessels after the Strait of Hormuz was closed and U.S. authorities filed a sanctions‑related lawsuit. The Department of Justice...
GXO Logistics Sets Its Sights on Asia-Pacific Market in 2027
GXO Logistics announced plans to expand into the Asia‑Pacific region in 2027, pursuing both organic growth and acquisitions. The company’s Asian footprint currently represents less than 1% of total revenue, limited to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and a nascent presence in...
Red Sea Disruption Drives Shift to Smaller, Flexible Cold Chain Networks
Geopolitical volatility in the Red Sea is prompting major retailers such as Walmart and IKEA to redesign their cold‑chain logistics, moving away from large central warehouses toward smaller, regional facilities. Executives highlighted the need for faster decision‑making, regional sourcing, and...
Argentina’s MSL Group ‘Expands Its Presence Into APAC’
Argentina‑based logistics firm MSL Group announced a strategic expansion into the Asia‑Pacific region, opening new offices in Singapore and Hong Kong. The move aims to capture rising cargo volumes between Latin America and key Asian markets, leveraging the company’s existing...
Amazon Discloses 3.5% Fuel & Logistics-Related Surcharge
Amazon announced a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge on its marketplace orders, aimed at offsetting rising diesel and transportation expenses. The fee will be applied automatically at checkout and affects both direct‑to‑consumer sales and third‑party sellers. The move follows a...
Japan-N Europe Service Start Reinforces CMA CGM Standalone Aim
CMA CGM inaugurated its standalone weekly Japan‑North Europe Ocean Rise service on 2 April 2026, marked by the arrival of the 8,000‑teu CMA CGM Tosca in Kobe. The route, designed for Japan’s exporters, will eventually operate 14 vessels averaging 9,000 teu, offering transit times of 38 days...
Forwarders Call for Surcharging Regulation as Trust in Carriers Dissipates
Forwarders are pressing for an international regulatory framework to govern carrier surcharges after a wave of war‑risk fees appeared in March. Major lines such as CMA CGM, Maersk and ONE imposed charges ranging from $1,200 to $4,000 per standard TEU, adding...
Supply Chain Disruption Drives Competition Between Ambitious South Asian Ports
Supply chain disruptions are spurring fierce competition among South Asian ports, with Sri Lanka's Hambantota International Port (HIP) accelerating its container‑handling capabilities. China Merchants Port Holdings is committing $108 million to add six quay cranes, 16 RTGs and 40 trailers, aiming...
A Year of ‘Peak Liquidity Stress’ Ahead for Forwarders, Says OntegosCloud
OntegosCloud warns that 2026 will be a year of peak liquidity stress for freight forwarders, driven by Middle‑East disruptions that lengthen transit times and shift billing milestones. The resulting cash‑inflow volatility, rising invoice disputes and higher freight surcharges are widening...
DHL Update on Cargo Flows as Pressure Builds in the Strait
DHL’s Middle East logistics team warned that the conflict around the Strait of Hormuz is deepening supply‑chain strain, with air carriers operating at 20‑60% of pre‑crisis capacity and jet‑fuel shortages limiting charter flights. The company is launching a thrice‑weekly B747F...
MSC the Standout Performer on Far East-Oceania Routes
Capacity on the Far East‑Oceania trade jumped 12% year‑on‑year to 811,141 TEU, far outpacing the 6% growth of the global liner fleet. MSC led the surge, adding 29,478 TEU—a 40% increase—bringing its deployed slots to 102,837 TEU and cementing a...
NTG Nordic Transport Group Appoints Carsten Trolle as CEO of Air & Ocean Business
NTG Nordic Transport Group announced the appointment of Carsten Trolle as chief executive officer of its Air & Ocean business. The move follows NTG’s aggressive expansion, including the $70 million cash‑debt‑free acquisition of Aries Global Logistics last year. Trolle, a veteran...
Saudi’s Folk Maritime Shifts India-Gulf Service to Red Sea as Hormuz Disruption Bites
Saudi state‑owned Folk Maritime announced it is pulling its India‑Gulf service out of the Hormuz corridor and redirecting the two 1,900‑TEU vessels to the Red Sea, focusing on Jeddah and Aqaba. The move follows the effective closure of the Strait...
Rising Fuel Costs Intensify Pressure on Fragile European Road Freight Market
European road freight operators are feeling a sharp rise in fuel costs tied to the Middle East conflict, which now represents up to 30% of their operating expenses. The International Road Transport Union warns this is a structural shift, not...
What Vanguard’s ‘Surrender’ Means for T&L Boardrooms, BlackRock & State Street
Vanguard filed Schedule 13G/A amendments showing it holds 0% of CH Robinson, Expeditors and Forward Air, effectively surrendering its voting rights in these transportation‑and‑logistics (T&L) companies. The move is not a market sell‑off but a compliance‑driven relinquishment of influence under...
CNBC: Brent Oil Heads for Record Monthly Surge…
Brent crude is on track for a record‑breaking monthly surge, with prices climbing past $100 per barrel for the first time. The rally reflects tightening global supply, driven by OPEC‑plus output cuts and heightened geopolitical tensions in key producing regions....
FMC Complaint Sees Importer Take Aim at Hapag-Lloyd over Covid-Era D&D Fee
Orleans International has filed a new complaint with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission accusing Hapag‑Lloyd of imposing $3,600 per TEU detention and demurrage (D&D) charges during the pandemic‑driven port congestion. The importer alleges that Hapag‑Lloyd’s containers were stacked in a...
Freightos’ Job Cuts May Have Been Inevitable as Profitability Push Intensifies
Freightos announced a global workforce reduction of up to 15%, affecting roughly 50‑60 roles, as part of a cost‑optimisation plan aimed at reaching adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the end of 2026. The company expects $1.3 million in restructuring expenses but anticipates...
Yang Ming Expects Higher Transpacific Annual Contract Rates This Year
Yang Ming expects 2026 transpacific contract rates to rise as soaring bunker fuel prices trigger route‑specific surcharges. Over 60 % of its fleet is scrubber‑fitted, allowing a switch to cheaper high‑sulphur fuel and mitigating cost pressure. The carrier also faces operational disruptions,...
West Coast Port Row over Booking Systems Threatens Supply Chain Efficiency
A dispute is brewing on the U.S. West Coast as Advent eModal, the dominant provider of container appointment software, threatens to block carriers from using third‑party aggregation tools. The West Coast MTO Agreement mandates truckers to book slots, but eModal’s...
Torsten Slok: $14 Trillion in IG Supply Coming to the Market
Torsten Slok warns that roughly $14 trillion of intermodal (IG) capacity will hit the market over the next two years, driven by a wave of new rail, truck and terminal assets. The surge could outpace demand, creating excess supply in freight...
Australian Forwarders Seek Aid as Surcharges and ‘Dumped’ Boxes Drive Costs Up
Australian freight forwarders, backed by APSA and the Freight & Trade Alliance, are seeking government assistance to offset soaring shipping costs caused by the US/Israeli war against Iran. Conflict‑related surcharges and end‑of‑voyage fees are adding up to about $4,000 per...
Flexport Dispute Sheds Light on How AI Is Reshaping Freight Forwarding
Flexport is suing former employees and rival startup Freightmate AI over alleged misuse of shipment documents to train AI tools. The dispute centers on thousands of real‑world freight documents that were downloaded and could give Freightmate a data advantage, rather...
What Shippers Need From LCL Consolidators in the Era of Ever-Disruption
Tim Jurischka argues that LCL consolidators must shift from pure cost‑optimisation to building resilience amid persistent geopolitical and trade disruptions. He highlights that traditional, static consolidation networks struggle when routes are blocked or capacity tightens, leading to higher freight rates...
Intra-Asia Trade the Next Hunting Ground for M&A-Hungry Carriers
Intra‑Asia container trade emerged as the most profitable segment in 2025, with volumes nearing 50 million TEU. Taiwan’s Wan Hai Lines posted the highest operating margin at 18.9%, while Cosco’s $4.3 bn net profit was buoyed by strong intra‑Asia earnings. The region’s growth,...
Governments Tighten Scrutiny on Carrier Pricing as Crisis Surcharges Mount
Governments in the United States and India are tightening oversight of ocean carrier pricing amid rising emergency surcharges linked to the Middle East crisis. The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission rejected liner requests for war‑related fees without a 30‑day notice, while...
LATAM Pushing Ahead with Transatlantic Expansion
LATAM Airlines is expanding its transatlantic network, launching São Paulo‑Amsterdam flights on March 30 with four weekly B787‑9 services, increasing to six by mid‑April, and adding a São Paulo‑Brussels route in June with three weekly flights. The airline’s cargo division saw revenues rise...
STG Logistics Survey: Sourcing Diversification, Contract Flexibility, Logistics Network Changes…
STG Logistics released a new industry survey highlighting three emerging trends: shippers are diversifying their sourcing portfolios, demanding greater contract flexibility, and re‑engineering logistics networks to cope with volatile freight markets. Over 60% of respondents plan to add alternative carriers,...
Air Cargo Backlogs Build as Mid East Disruption Cuts Capacity and Scrambles Networks
Air cargo backlogs are mounting as Middle East airspace closures have stripped roughly 20% of global air‑freight capacity, equivalent to over 500,000 tonnes. Qatar Airways Cargo has resumed limited freighter services under a temporary authorisation, while other regional carriers operate...
