Asia & Freight Market Update – April
Global freight markets remain heavily influenced by the continued disruption linked to the Middle East crisis, with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz continuing to distort energy flows,…
Author: Paul Kelly
Asia–US west coast trades outperform as early inventory moves support rates
Container demand from Asia into the US west coast is continuing to outperform several other major east-west trades, as importers accelerate shipments and carriers maintain tight control over available capacity.…
Selective Suez returns expose growing overcapacity risk in container shipping
Container shipping lines have tested limited returns through the Suez Canal, but the industry looks far from a full restoration of pre-crisis Red Sea operations this year. For the past…
UK–EU trade talks point to lower friction, not friction-free trade
The UK government is preparing the ground for a significant recalibration of its trading relationship with the European Union, with new proposals aimed at reducing border friction, improving regulatory cooperation…
Jet fuel disruption tightens air cargo capacity and drives rate volatility
Air freight markets are entering a more constrained and complex phase, as disruption to jet fuel supply chains begins to directly impact capacity, pricing and network reliability. What initially appeared…
$166bn U.S. tariff recovery begins: How to secure your refund
The recovery of tariffs is under way, as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activates its refund portal. What was previously a legal ruling is now a large-scale operational programme,…
Ocean bunker markets fragment
Bunker fuel availability, not just vessel capacity, is now shaping how ocean networks operate and how costs are set, as disruption linked to the Strait of Hormuz creates regional imbalances…
Irish food exports face disruption, but demand creates opportunity
Irish food exporters are working in a more complex trading environment as disruption affects flows into the Middle East, but underlying fundamentals of demand and long-standing trade relationships support a…
Resilience, not stability, is driving trade growth
Global trade continues to move forward, but the conditions supporting that growth are becoming increasingly complex. Record volumes in 2025 have reinforced long-term demand fundamentals, yet the operating environment in…
Gulf overland corridors tighten
As disruption across the Middle East continues to restrict traditional ocean and air freight routes, inland transport networks are being pushed to the forefront of supply chain execution. What was…
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