Ex-Asia Ocean Spot Rates Surge as Carriers Withdraw Capacity
Asia–Europe ocean freight markets have tightened significantly through Q4, with carriers implementing repeated rate increases and withdrawing substantial capacity from key services.
Since early October, freight-all-kinds (FAK) levels have been raised at roughly fortnightly intervals, pushing...
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US Importers Face Mounting Fines as Packaging Contamination Checks Increase
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is intensifying inspections on wood packaging materials (WPM), issuing more than 87,000 Agriculture Emergency Action Notifications (EANs) in the last fiscal year.
Heightened enforcement reflects growing concern over pest-contaminated pallets, crates and d...
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Belgium’s National Strike Could Trigger Congestion Across Europe’s Port Network
A three-day national stoppage across Belgium’s rail, transport and public sectors this week is set to disrupt freight flows through Antwerp and the wider Benelux logistics corridor, adding fresh strain to a European port network already battling congestion and capacity limitations.
With rail...
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Rising Freight Crime Sparks Industry, Government and Police Action
Road haulage operators are on high alert as criminal activity peaks during the dark winter months, with investigations revealing how organised gangs are posing as legitimate operators, buying haulage companies, and infiltrating supply chains to steal trailer loads.
The scale of the threat is e...
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Port Labour Disputes Ease as Carriers Adjust Capacity
North European ports are recovering from a turbulent October marked by strikes, slowdowns, and strategic capacity withdrawals that continue to test vessel schedule reliability across major trade lanes.
In Rotterdam, port operations normalised following the end of a strike on 17 October, after ...
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Continued Airfreight Growth Amid Emerging Challenges
Global air freight markets have continued to post positive year-on-year growth through September and October, reinforced by stronger than anticipated build up to peak season volumes, but recent indicators point to a moderating pace and emerging challenges that merit close attention.
While rece...
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When the Suez Canal Comes Back Online: Hidden Risks for Supply Chains
With hopes rising of stabilising conflict in the Red Sea region, analysts are increasingly considering what it would mean if shipping lines resume full use of the Suez Canal route, and it’s not all good news.
While the shorter route from Asia to Europe might seem like a logistical boon, th...
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One Minute Late, Thousands Lost: U.S. Customs Tightens Enforcement Across All Modes
In U.S. trade compliance, even a one-minute delay can be costly. Recent cases show importers and logistics partners facing thousands of dollars in penalties simply because mandatory filings were completed moments after official cut-off times.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has steppe...
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Airfreight Cools; Growth Still Building
Even though air cargo is easing back after a brisk summer, global tonnages rose in the third quarter, with eCommerce redrawing lanes and hub dynamics, while UK airport expansions point to a more connected decade ahead.
Worldwide air cargo tonnages were up 4% YoY in Q3 2025 and while average sp...
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Blank Sailings, GRIs and a Typhoon Disrupt Asia Shipping
Shippers moving goods out of Asia are bracing for the tightest space and schedule disruptions as the major container shipping lines accelerate blank sailings in the lead-up to China’s extended Golden Week holidays.
Following weeks of tentative planning, lines have now confirmed broad capacit...
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Ex-China Airfreight: Turbulence and Transformation
For shippers moving goods by air into Europe and the US, the peak season has arrived with a complexity not seen in recent years. As flights are cancelled and rates trend sharply upward, a fundamental reshaping of the marketplace is underway.
In September, a powerful typhoon swept through south...
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Carriers Sustain Transpacific Rate Momentum with Strategic Blanking
Transpacific carriers have achieved notable success this September in upholding spot freight rates despite softer volumes and ongoing market pressures. Through a mix of strategic blank sailings and well-timed general rate increases (GRIs), the main carriers have sustained a robust rate environmen...
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