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 to double HIP’s capacity to 2 million TEU after a seven‑fold volume surge last year. In India, Nhava Sheva (JNPA) posted a 12% YoY increase to 8.2 million TEU, overtaking rival Mundra, thanks to recent expansions and a new dedicated freight corridor. Vizhinjam’s yards are now at full capacity, handling 1.3 million TEU amid heightened Middle‑East tensions.
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...
Tariff Refunds Still Months Away as Court Presses for Progress
A U.S. Court of International Trade order mandated Customs and Border Protection to refund tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. CBP’s filing on March 19 reveals its new Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system is...
HMM Jumps Onto Feeder Vessel Commissioning Bonanza
South Korean carrier HMM commissioned ten 2,800‑TEU feeder vessels at Hyundai Heavy Industries for $550 million, with delivery slated for late 2028. The company also secured a December 2025 order for twelve additional feeder ships from China’s Huanghai Shipbuilding, comprising five...
US Shippers Back Rail Access Shake-Up as Merger Fears Grow
The Surface Transportation Board has issued a proposal to repeal Federal Rule 49 CFR Part 1144, which currently restricts reciprocal switching for shippers seeking alternative rail service. The change is backed by major shipper groups, the American Chemistry Council, and...
Piraeus Declines 6% for Second Year, Cosco Ports Results Show
Cosco‑controlled Piraeus port reported a 6% drop in 2025 throughput, handling 3.97 million TEU, marking the second consecutive year of decline. Analysts attribute the loss to Red Sea disruptions that rerouted cargo to Spain and northern Europe rather than pure demand...
No ‘Last Hurrah’ Expected for US De Minimis as Legal Challenge Advances
The U.S. administration’s suspension of the de minimis exemption is now being challenged in the Court of International Trade after a lawsuit by auto‑parts retailer Detroit Axle alleges the move exceeds legal authority. The challenge follows a Supreme Court ruling that limited...
The Wrong Question: Why the TMS Debate Is Distracting Forwarders From What Comes Next
Freight forwarders are fixated on the "which TMS?" debate, especially around CargoWise pricing, but industry veteran Brian Glick argues the real issue is integration and what comes after traditional TMS. He positions Chain.io as a neutral integration layer that separates...
Rising Fuel Price Could See Box Shipping Face a Bill of up to $35bn
Rising fuel prices linked to the Hormuz crisis could add $30‑35 billion to global container shipping costs if sustained for a year. Sea‑Intelligence estimates an extra $153‑$178 per TEU, potentially pushing freight rates higher. While direct fuel expenses are significant, analysts...
Epstein Files Still Weigh on DP World Despite Solid Delivery
DP World released solid preliminary 2025 results, highlighting strong growth and a logistics segment that outperformed its peers. The company, however, provided limited insight into unit‑level costs and cash flow, leaving analysts seeking more transparency. Meanwhile, lingering legal issues tied...
Shuttles Ex-India on the Increase with Long-Haul Schedules Constrained
Middle East geopolitical tensions are constraining long‑haul container schedules, prompting mainline carriers to redeploy capacity into regional shuttle services from India. Hapag‑Lloyd is evaluating an ad‑hoc shuttle linking Kandla to UAE ports such as Khor Fakkan or Fujairah, building on its...
Canada Trade Pivot Has Funds for Supply Chain Development, but Lacks a Plan
Canada is reshaping its trade policy to cut reliance on the United States, aiming to double non‑U.S. exports by 2035. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push has unlocked a new C$5 bn Trade Diversification Corridors Fund to upgrade ports, rail and air...
Röhlig Logistics Sets Course for Further Growth in Chile and Latin America
Röhlig Logistics announced a strategic expansion plan for Chile and the wider Latin American market, including the launch of a new hub in Santiago in 2026. The company aims to boost its regional revenue by 15% by 2028, backed by...
Avianca Eyes Caracas, MSC Adds a 777F, SF Brings in a 747, Board Shuffle at One Air
Avianca Cargo inaugurated a weekly A330 freighter service between Bogotá and Caracas, adding 60 tonnes of capacity and supplementing it with passenger belly space. MSC Air Cargo took delivery of its seventh Boeing 777F, named Castor, to expand its Europe‑Asia...
The Loadstar Explainers: CBP Refund Process; USTR Section 301 Investigation; Jones Act Waiver Plan
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is near‑completion of CAPE, a new module within the ACE platform that will let importers electronically claim refunds on duties imposed under IEEPA. The USTR has launched a Section 301 investigation into alleged overcapacity in...
SE Asia May Fit the Bill as Forwarders Shy Away From US ‘Tariff Silliness’
European freight forwarders are reducing exposure to the United States amid unpredictable tariff policies and turning to South‑East Asia for new import opportunities. The region, bolstered by the broader “China+1” diversification, shows steady growth, with Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam leading...
Box Ship Hit in Gulf as Fuel and Surcharges Spike Costs
The containership Source Blessing was hit by shrapnel 35 nautical miles north of Jebel Ali, igniting a small fire but leaving the crew unharmed. The incident marks a widening of attacks beyond the Strait of Hormuz, prompting carriers to suspend...
Lufthansa Cargo Expects Limited Disruption During Two-Day Pilot Strike
Lufthansa Cargo announced that it expects to operate nearly all scheduled freighter flights despite a two‑day cockpit crew strike on March 12‑13, 2026. The Vereinigung Cockpit union called the walk‑out affecting departures from Germany, though Middle‑East routes are exempt. Only...
EXCLUSIVE: FreightWaves: Rail Merger Critics Should ‘Quit Looking Backward’ – Union Pacific CEO
Union Pacific CEO urged detractors of the pending UP‑NS merger to stop dwelling on past rail consolidations and look ahead to the benefits of a combined network. The merger, filed with the Surface Transportation Board, seeks to create America’s first...
Shippers ‘Despair’ as Carriers Hit Trade with Flurry of New Surcharges
Ocean carriers and airlines have announced a wave of new surcharges, prompting the Global Shippers Forum to warn that operating costs for exporters could more than double. An Australian exporter cited an additional $250,000 expense, which rose to $600,000 after...
US Importer Crackdown Bid Could Trigger Shift in Ecommerce Logistics
The U.S. Senate introduced the Securing Accountability in Foreign Entries Act, tightening importer‑of‑record rules by requiring a genuine physical U.S. presence and verified bank accounts. The legislation also raises the minimum continuous import bond to $100,000. By targeting non‑resident importers,...
Near-Shoring Talk Fades as Global Supply Chains Stretch, Says DHL
The DHL Global Connectedness report shows that global supply chains are stretching, with 2025 average trade distances reaching a record 5,010 km and greenfield foreign‑direct investment averaging 6,250 km. Despite geopolitical tensions and near‑shoring rhetoric, companies are still diversifying globally, routing trade...
Limited Freighter Lift Shapes Morocco-West Africa Cargo Strategy
The Morocco‑West Africa air cargo corridor relies heavily on passenger belly space, with dedicated freighter lift remaining inconsistent and often shrinking. Royal Air Maroc’s new Casablanca‑Dakar freighter marks a strategic move, yet overall capacity stays fragmented, especially on secondary routes...
Air Cargo Turns to Trucks as Middle East Disruption Sends Rates Soaring
Air cargo networks across the Gulf are crippled by flight cancellations and airspace closures, prompting forwarders to reroute freight by truck, especially through Saudi Arabia. Freight rates have surged, with southern‑Asia to North America lanes up 36% and Asia‑Europe lanes...
BlackRock’s GIP Acquires Independent Lessor TCR for Undisclosed Amount
BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has completed the acquisition of independent container lessor TCR, though the purchase price was not disclosed. TCR, which supplies leasing solutions to major shipping lines, adds a significant asset base to GIP’s maritime portfolio. The...
Selective Gemini Integration as Hapag Plots Course for Zim
Hapag‑Lloyd is advancing a takeover of Zim, with the deal signed but still awaiting competition clearance and Israeli government consent for Zim’s golden share, aiming to close by the end of 2026. Integration will be selective, folding parts of Zim...
Zim Takeover Raises Questions for Transpac Shippers – and MSC
Hapag‑Lloyd’s pending acquisition of Zim will reshape the Asia‑US east‑coast trade, especially the five vessel‑sharing services currently run with MSC. The carrier can either keep Zim’s premium, time‑sensitive strings separate or fold them into the Gemini alliance, each option raising...
Hellmann Appoints DHL GF’s Alexandra Olvera as Chief Commercial Officer
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics announced the appointment of Alexandra Olvera as its chief commercial officer, effective March 1. Based in Osnabrück, Olvera will lead the global sales organization under the Forward2030 strategy, focusing on sales integration and expanding key segments such...
EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Ceva Baron in Talks with MSC to Lead Forwarding Charge
A former Ceva Logistics executive, often dubbed the "Ceva baron," is reportedly in advanced discussions with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) to head its freight‑forwarding division. The move comes as MSC seeks to broaden its logistics portfolio and challenge rivals such...
Amazon and City Hall Line up for Battle over Delivery Licence in New York
New York City Council is poised to adopt the Delivery Protection Act, a licensing regime that would require final‑mile delivery operators, including Amazon’s third‑party partners, to obtain city permits and directly employ warehouse workers. The legislation follows a city comptroller...