Category: Supply Chain

Tariffs, Complexity and Opportunity

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

Cargo Rush Sparks Port Congestion and Equipment Shortages

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

Tariff Pause Triggers Early Transpacific Peak Season

The 90-day suspension of US-China tariffs has delivered a sharp jolt to transpacific ocean freight, triggering an unseasonal spike in demand and pushing spot rates up significantly. This unexpected policy reprieve has not only created a narrow window of predictability for US importers, but als... Read more

US Port Fees on Chinese-Built Vessels

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

March Airfreight Surge Sets Stage for Further Growth as US-China Trade Tensions Ease

Airfreight markets posted a record performance in March, with particularly strong activity on Asia, US, Europe and UK trade lanes. The surge, driven by shippers front-loading cargo ahead of anticipated US tariffs, has provided a benchmark for what could follow in the months ahead as recent tariff... Read more

Trump’s Red Sea Gambit

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

Blanked Sailings Amid Geopolitical Shifts

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

India and Pakistan Impose Cargo Bans

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

Northern Europe’s Ports Struggle with Congestion Amid Network Shifts

Ports across Northern Europe are grappling with rising congestion, causing widespread delays and operational disruption. A confluence of industrial action, infrastructure strain, inland transport bottlenecks and the rollout of new shipping alliances is overwhelming terminals, with no immediate re... Read more

IMEC: Europe’s New Trade Bridge to India

Launched as a strategic counterweight to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is poised to reshape global trade flows between Europe, India, and beyond. Backed by a coalition of world powers including the US, EU, India, and key Middle Ea... Read more

Tariff Tensions Drive Short-Term Freight Surges and Long-Term Uncertainty

Global freight markets remain under pressure as shifting US tariff policies continue to disrupt established trade patterns, prompting divergent responses across air and sea freight markets. While immediate demand surges have driven up short-term pricing, underlying market dynamics suggest a volat... Read more

New Tariffs and the End of De Minimis

On 2 April 2025, President Donald J. Trump announced sweeping new tariffs, targeting approximately 60 countries, with China singled out for the most severe action. In response to retaliatory tariffs from Beijing, the United States escalated its own duties, ultimately imposing a 125% tariff on all... Read more