Container operations at the Port of Rotterdam have come to a standstill due to a 48-hour strike by employees responsible for securing and releasing containers on ships and at docks. The labor action, which began on October 8, will continue through October 10. As reported by ShippingWatch, the strike is a result of unresolved labor
In its October Global Trade Outlook and Statistics update, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has cut its 2026 global trade volume growth projection to 0.5%, down from 1.8% previously projected in August. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala noted, “Looking to 2026, the fact is there’s so much uncertainty, it’s hard to be conclusive.” She identified strong
New port fees from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will apply to vessels linked to China beginning October 14. As reported by splash247, BIMCO calculated that only one-third of tanker and container vessels are expected to fall under the scope of the new fees. In contrast, 45% of bulkers are expected
Global air cargo demand remained resilient in August, with cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK) rising 4.1% year-on-year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). While slightly below July’s 5% growth, August was the sixth consecutive month of year-on-year growth, IATA’s August global air cargo market report revealed. IATA Director General Willie Walsh noted that the change
As of October 14, 2025, U.S. trade policy will implement a new port fee for Chinese-owned, operated, or built vessels. The proposed fee structure is reportedly linked to China’s dominant role in global maritime trade. According to a report by splash247, consultancy Alphaliner assessed that the top ten container carriers could face a combined total
U.S. Census Bureau data confirms a sustained decline in import volumes from China since the beginning of the year. July was an exception as tariff deadlines drove frontloading. In response, China has strategically redirected its export flows toward markets with stronger demand. First noted in Maersk’s July market update, the shift has helped China maintain
The global container shipping market is undergoing a shift with demand increasingly driven by trade routes outside of the U.S. In its Container Shipping Market Overview for September 2025, international shipping association BIMCO highlighted this trend through insights shared by Chief Shipping Analyst Niels Rasmussen. In the video presentation, Rasmussen projected that global cargo volumes
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global shipping, which moves over 80% of the world’s merchandise trade, is being reshaped by geopolitical tensions, environmental mandates, and shifting trade policies. UNCTAD reported that, according to its recent Review of Maritime Transport 2025, seaborne trade volumes are expected to only grow by
For freight forwarders, the biggest risk when it comes to hazardous cargo shipping is not always in the packaging itself. It is not just leaking drums, unstable chemicals, or poorly packed batteries that create problems. More often, the trouble starts on paper. Documentation errors are the single most common cause of compliance failures in dangerous
The World Bank Group said in a press release that global port performance continues to vary widely across regions. Citing the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), the World Bank Group noted a decline in port performance between 2020 and 2024 and listed the Red Sea crisis, operational constraints at the Panama Canal, and pandemic-related aftershocks