MSC has extended its Far East-Indian subcontinent Shikra service to Khor Fakkan and Sohar as it capitalises on the high demand and freight rates to the Middle East despite severe congestion at these ports. The first Khor Fakkan call was made on 18 October 2026 with the 24,346 teu MSC MICOL under the new Shikra rotation that calls at Dalian, Xingang, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Singapore, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Karachi, Khor Fakkan, Sohar, Dalian. The extended service will turn in 15 weeks

Boluda Shipping has announced the acquisition of Samskip on 28 October 2026 that will allow it to establish a pan-European short sea shipping network connecting Northern Europe with the Iberian Peninsula, Canary Islands and West Africa. The deal is expected to close on 1 January 2027 subject to regulatory approvals. Following completion, the enlarged Boluda network is expected to comprise of 32 vessels with Samskip's existing fleet of 15 ships of 130 teu to 950 teu set to join Boluda that will

Register Free Trial Further signs are emerging that container freight rates have peaked as cargo demand softens heading into the traditional slack winter season while capacity pressure is easing with the further release of ships returning to the Suez route. Carriers have failed to push through the planned November rate hikes and the pace of rate cuts is accelerating as they scramble to secure cargo before rates soften further. EC freight futures have started to correct after their initial enthu

Newly established Jade Pacific Line has launched its first service connecting Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Karachi, Sokhna, Mundra from 25 September 2026 using the 1,100 teu MEDKON SIA on an irregular 30-35 day rolling schedule. Jade Pacific was established in Singapore in April 2026 and is headed by former SeaLead executives. The company is affiliated to Ocean Silk Line (OSL) and OVP Shipping, with OSL holding a 30% interest.

MSC will launch a new Jasmine service connecting Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Singapore, Surabaya, Semarang, Singapore, Shanghai from November 2026. The new service will turn in 35 days using 5 ships of 2,000-3,000 teu starting with the 2,169 teu MSC WIND II at Shanghai on 6 November 2026 (delayed from planned start date on 4 November).

Register Free Trial MSC has added to its massive orderbook with a fresh order for 20 additional 24,000 teu ships at Hengli HI, lifting the total number of giant containerships over 20,000 teu ordered at the Dalian yard by MSC to 62 units. Together with 8 more 13,000 teu ship orders that HMM announced last week, the containership orderbook ratio has jumped to a post-2009 peak of 46.5%, with the TEU capacity reaching 16.2m TEU. Although the spot market freight rates appear to have peaked after c

Gemini Cooperation partners Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk will launch a new Asia-Med SE5/AE18 service from November 2026 calling at Shanghai, Xiamen, Tanjung Pelepas, Algeciras, Tanger Med, Algeciras, Xiamen, Shanghai. The service will turn in 9 weeks using the Suez route and will deploy 9 ships of 10,000-14,000 teu starting with the 13,676 teu MAERSK ERDINE at Shanghai on 21 November 2026. The new service replaces the coverage in Algeciras and Tanger that will be removed on their existing NE1/AE2, SE

Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk will resume regular weekly sailings on the AGX/FM1 service connecting Qingdao, Ningbo, Tanjung Pelepas, Khor Fakkan, Singapore, Qingdao from 17 October 2026. The AGX/FM1 service has been operating on an irregular basis since May 2026 with its former call at Jebel Ali replaced by Khor Fakkan but will return to a regular weekly frequency under the Gemini Cooperation turning in 8 weeks using 8 ships of 8,000 to 13,000 teu starting with the 8,440 teu MAERSK ATHABASCA at Qingda

Hai An Transport has launched a new China Vietnam India (CVI) service connecting Nansha, Haiphong, Port Klang, Chennai, Port Klang, Cai Mep, Haiphong, Nansha. The CVI service will operate initially on a monthly frequency starting with the 1,781 teu HAIAN BETA at Nansha on 17 September 2026.

Register Free Trial Freight rate signals out of Asia remain mixed with the SCFI showing little price movements as the Chinese market was closed for most of last week. The market outlook has turned negative with TEU-mile demand growth slipping further as the number of containerships shifting back to the Suez route continues to grow. Total capacity tied up at anchorages has also started to gradually decline as the National Day holidays in China has helped to clear part of the vessel backlog at C

Newly established Jade Pacific Line has launched a new India to Red Sea service from 1 October 2026. The service connects Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Karachi, Sokhna, Mundra on an irregular schedule and deploys the 1,100 teu MEDKON SIA. Jade Pacific Line was established in Singapore in April 2026 by Chinese related interests linked to OVP Shipping and Ocean Silk Line.

MSC has launched a new Charleston Express service connecting Charleston, Freeport (Bahamas), Charleston from 29 September 2026 with the 2,797 teu MSC PASSION III on a weekly frequency.