What Shippers Should Prepare for in 2026
The outlook for US ocean freight in 2026 is being shaped by two powerful and unpredictable forces: a potential wave of inventory replenishment and the gradual return of container vessels…
Author: Paul Kelly
Customs Crackdown on Pest-Contaminated Cargo Packing
Importers are increasingly being caught out by pest-related enforcement, as wood packaging materials arrive contaminated despite appearing fully compliant. The financial consequences are severe: multi-layered fines, demurrage, fumigation costs, and…
US Trade Policy Enters a New Phase
After months of political stalemate, economic pressure and regulatory unpredictability, several important developments have emerged across tariffs, port charges and government operations. For shippers, the result is a complicated mix…
Asia and Freight Market Update – September 2025
U.S. manufacturing remains subdued, though inflationary pressures linked to tariffs appear to be stabilising. The consumer price index is projected to edge slightly higher to 3.1%, while resilient domestic demand…
New Port Fees Disrupt Transpacific Container Market
New US and China port fees are impacting every shipper moving goods between Asia and North America, with far-reaching regulations and escalating cost pressures. UPDATE 30 OCTOBER - Donald Trump…
Port Strikes Underline Supply Chain Fragility
Labour disputes at two of Northern Europe’s busiest container gateways - Rotterdam and Antwerp - severely disrupted cargo flows earlier this month, with ripple effects reaching transatlantic supply chains. Although…
U.S. Government Shutdown: Potential Supply Chain Impact
While the current U.S. government shutdown has not yet caused major disruption to trade, importers and exporters are monitoring developments closely. Experience from past shutdowns suggests that, if it continues,…
China’s Global Trade Shift Brings New Opportunities
China’s exporters are proving remarkably adaptable, reshaping global trade flows in response to U.S. tariffs and shifting trade policy. While direct shipments to the United States have slowed, China has…
Container Shipping in 2026: Why Resilience Will Prevail
Predictions of a container shipping downturn in 2026 are growing louder, but the industry’s fundamentals suggest otherwise. While global trade growth will slow, the structural strengths of the sector, from…
China Airfreight Market Squeezed
Airfreight pricing out of China has climbed steeply in recent weeks as a perfect storm of seasonal demand, severe weather and rail disruption has tightened available capacity. Rates on key…
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