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
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
A recent article from The Loadstar reported that the Asia-North Europe and Asia-Mediterranean routes currently lack around 500,000 TEUs of capacity. Nonetheless, spot ocean freight rates between the Far East and Europe continue to be under pressure. The vessel shortage is not affecting all alliances equally. The Loadstar article highlighted that the Ocean Alliance appears
With new U.S. port fees targeting Chinese-built and Chinese-owned vessels set to take effect on October 14, carriers are adjusting their networks to reduce financial exposure and maintain service continuity. American Shipper reports that several major container lines such as Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, and Yang Ming, are already withdrawing China-built vessels from U.S.-bound services ahead
As splash247 reported, Sea-Intelligence data has revealed that empty containers account for 41% of global container transport in July, up from 31% recorded in 2019. The trend of increasing empty container movements has been steady over the past five years, with only a slight drop in 2022. According to The Loadstar, Sea-Intelligence data indicated that imbalanced
As ShippingWatch reported, Maersk has increased its regional capacity in Asia by 52% over the past year. The data, published by Alphaliner, equates the growth to approximately 100,000 TEUs. This expansion places Maersk just behind China’s state-owned COSCO, currently the top carrier in the region. A key driver of this growth is the launch of