02 Sep 2025

U.S. to Implement New Fees on China-Linked Vessels Starting October 2025

Beginning October 14, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will introduce a new fee structure on vessels linked to China, including ships that are Chinese-owned, operated, or built. The initiative, coordinated with the U.S. Trade Representative, is designed to reduce reliance on Chinese-built vessels, strengthen U.S. port security, and promote domestic shipbuilding. Under the […]

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31 Aug 2025

Blank Sailings, Rate Pressure Follow New India–US Tariffs

The imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian exports to the US is already disrupting container shipping on the India–US East Coast (USEC) route. With cargo demand weakening, carriers are cutting back sailings and rethinking their deployment strategies to balance supply with shrinking exports. Local forwarders report at least three blank sailings scheduled from West India […]

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26 Aug 2025

Shipping Giants Slash Costs as Freight Rates Sink

Major carriers including Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, and Zim are slashing costs as freight rates continue to decline across global trade lanes. Executives warn that expenses such as shipbuilding, chartering, fuel, and port labor have risen sharply since the pandemic, pushing unit costs well above 2019 levels. Zim highlighted higher fuel costs, port congestion, and increased dockworker […]

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22 Aug 2025

Cargo Chaos in Asia: Shippers Face Weeks-Long Delays Amid Feeder Shortage

Limited feeder vessel capacity between Asia’s secondary ports and major transshipment hubs is creating significant disruptions for both Asian exports and inbound shipments from the US and Europe, according to forwarders and carriers. Shippers in Thailand and Indonesia are waiting up to a month to secure space, leading to widespread transshipment delays, rolled cargo, and […]

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21 Aug 2025

Navigating the New U.S. / EU Trade Framework: Key Changes for Importers and Exporters

In a significant development for transatlantic commerce, the United States and the European Union have announced a new Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade. This agreement marks a pivotal first step towards reducing trade barriers, enhancing market access, and strengthening the economic relationship between two of the world’s largest markets. For […]

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18 Aug 2025

Airfreight Volumes Shift: US-Bound Shipments Bounce Back as European Routes Weaken

New data from WorldACD suggests that airfreight volumes between the Asia Pacific and the US are showing signs of life, while those headed to Europe have declined. This could be an early indicator of a market rebalancing as the US finalizes new tariffs. For the week ending August 10, chargeable weight from China to the […]

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13 Aug 2025

HMM Warns of Turbulence Ahead as Tariff Uncertainty Hits Global Shipping

South Korean carrier HMM cautioned Wednesday that global container shipping faces heightened volatility as tariff grace periods expire and trade negotiations continue. “The expiry of tariff grace periods and ongoing renegotiations are expected to increase market volatility, with regional demand shifts likely to sustain supply chain congestion,” HMM said in its first-half earnings commentary. The […]

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