Category: General

As the United States recalibrates its tariff landscape, importers (and DDP exporters) are navigating a rapidly shifting environment. With Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods still firmly in place, it has never been more critical to understand which tariffs apply and how to calculate them. In ... Read more

The recent 90-day pause on US tariffs on Chinese imports has sparked a dramatic surge in demand, as American importers scramble to front-load shipments ahead of the 14 August deadline. The demand spike is now placing considerable pressure on supply chains across Asia and Europe, threatening to di... Read more

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has finalised a revised plan to impose port fees on Chinese-built containerships calling at US ports. This follows the reintroduction of the SHIPS for America Act, part of President Donald Trump’s broader push to revive the US shipbuilding indust... Read more

A dramatic shift in the Red Sea shipping crisis may be underway following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Houthi militants have agreed to halt their campaign against commercial vessels. His declaration has sparked hopes of restored freedom of navigation through one of the world... Read more

Global sea freight is navigating a complex landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, fluctuating demand, and strategic capacity adjustments and while a temporary US-China tariff truce offers a glimmer of hope, challenges persist across major trade lanes. In response to weakening demand, parti... Read more

The fragile balance of South Asia’s supply chain network has been thrown into disarray after India and Pakistan imposed tit-for-tat bans on each other’s cargo. The diplomatic standoff, triggered by recent violence in Kashmir and subsequent military exchanges, has sent shockwaves through oc... Read more

While there’s talk in the market about further pressure on rates, the reality is more complex, with container spot rate indices showing mixed signals last week, suggesting that any softening on key east-west routes might not last. The global supply chain remains unpredictable, and several fa... Read more

The global air freight market in February and early March reflected moderate year-on-year (YoY) growth, with total worldwide tonnages up 5% in February and 2% higher YoY in early March. However, market dynamics remain volatile, influenced by shifting trade policies, geopolitical factors, and e... Read more

Just seven weeks into 2025, global supply chains have already faced a whirlwind of challenges. From industrial action to trade barriers and shifting alliances, businesses must stay agile to navigate ongoing disruptions. Here are seven of the most impactful developments so far this year. 1. ... Read more

As the Gemini Cooperation officially launches, its promise of 90%-plus schedule reliability through a hub-and-spoke network is under intense scrutiny. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, the two partners in the venture, aim to address persistent reliability issues in container shipping, where schedule adh... Read more

For over a year attacks on merchant vessels by Houthi militants has forced container carriers to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope. However, a newly established ceasefire and assurances from Houthi forces to limit attacks on non-Israeli vessels signal the possibility of a return to the Suez Ca... Read more

Global demand for ocean freight container shipping has surged to unprecedented levels, surpassing even the peak during the Covid pandemic and comes when available capacity is already strained due to diversions around Africa, leading to concerns that any peak season demand could be calamitous. ... Read more