Register Free Trial The lack of progress in the re-opening of the Straight of Hormuz and persistently high fuel prices have not dampened container cargo demand as volumes globally are rebounding strongly in May, fueling a fresh round of freight rate increases. The number of containerships idled in the Persian Gulf remains high due to the continued blockade of the Hormuz and the low number of new ship deliveries in the last 2 months have kept the market severely short of ships as charter rates c

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have amended their Gemini Cooperation Agreement to modify the timing of discussions regarding potential seasonal blank sailings with the new arrangement taking effect from March 2026. Under the previous terms of the agreement that started from 1 February 2025, the 2 carriers are authorised to blank sailings only during Chinese New Year or Chinese Golden Week provided such agreement is reached no later than 12 weeks prior to the scheduled date of the sailing. The revised

Register Free Trial Carriers’ have reversed the earnings slump in the 1st quarter with early financial results from COSCO and ONE showing EBIT margin improvements of some 4% compared to 4Q 2025. Freight rates have held up in the 2nd quarter, with carriers able to recover most of the fuel cost increases since March and persisting with regular bi-monthly rate hike announcements as they continue to test the resilience of cargo demand. Charter rates have also strengthened with vessel demand undimin

COSCO Shipping has added a new Singapore-Kota Kinabalu Service (KTS4) connecting Singapore,Kota Kinabalu,Singapore from 3 May 2026. The service turns in 7 days on a weekly frequency using the 707 teu TAN CANG GLORY. Ad hoc calls at Bintulu can also be provided on this service. The service replaces COSCO's previous Yangpu-Batam Express (YBX) service that connected Yangpu, Qinzhou, Kota Kinabalu, Batam, Singapore, Yangpu which has been withdrawn in April 2026 due to port congestion at Kota Kinab

CMA CGM has introduced a new Bengal Bay Express XL (BBXLCNC) service connecting Singapore, Chittagong, Singapore from 2 April 2026. The service turns in 14 days using the 1,952 teu CNC NEPTUNE and 2,782 teu CNC TIGER (subsequently replaced by the smaller 1,118 teu IRIS PAOAY on 22 April 2026).

MSC will launch a new Europe-Red Sea-Middle East Express service from 10 May 2026 calling at Gdansk, Klaipeda, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Valencia, Barcelona, Gioia Tauro, Abu Kir, King Abdullah Port, Jeddah, Aqaba. The service will operate on a single direction, using ships of 14,000 teu to 16,000 teu that will switch in and out of the rotation within the MSC network. It replaces the current West Med to Red Sea service serves the same route on a truncated basis starting from Barcelona, Valencia or G

Samudera Shipping Line has launched a new Korea-Japan Shuttle (KJS) connecting Busan, Nagoya, Kobe, Busan from 8 April 2026. The KJS service turns in 7 days on a weekly frequency using the 1,019 teu ROTTERDAM TRADER. The move marks Samudera's entry into the Northeast Asia market, expanding from its current Southeast Asia and Indian subcontinent presence.

Containerised cargo volumes weathered the Middle East storm relatively unscathed in the 1st quarter of 2026, with total throughput at the Top 20 ports growing by 4%, led by strong growth at Chinese ports which account for half of the ports in the list. Ningbo overtook Singapore to rise to 2nd place for the first time, with volumes growing by 14.7% during the first 3 months of 2026. Dubai suffered a 30.5% fall in container volumes as vessel traffic was effectively halted in March due to the clos

MSC will launch a new Lekki-Lome-Lagos Feeder service connecting Lekki, Lome, Lagos, Tincan Island, Lekki from 30 May 2026 with the 3,534 teu MSC RABAT IV

Register Free Trial Container freight rates have stabilized since the initial Iran war rate surge, with current gains largely coming higher bunker surcharges. Vessel capacity has adjusted rapidly with no space shortages reported and port congestion have been largely limited to Indian subcontinent and Arabian Sea ports. MSC only managed to evacuate 4 ships from the Gulf on 18 April with 2 more ships detained by Iran. Although the Hormuz remains effectively shut, 3 non-Iranian containerships made

MSC has relaunched its China-India Osprey extra loader service that will start on 28 April 2026 with the 5,041 teu MSC TAMPA V at Qingdao followed by the 9,200 teu MSC MADELEINE at Ningbo on 7 May and the 6,492 teu MSC AQUARIUS VII at Qingdao on 15 May. These ships will provide direct connections to Mundra to cater for the increased demand on the corridor due to the Middle East war.

Maersk will launch a new SLA Baltic Sea service connecting the Mediterranean and Baltic Sea from 11 May 2026. The SLA service will call at Tanger Med, Gdansk, Bremerhaven, Vado Ligure, Port Said, Alexandria, Tanger Med, turning in 35 days using 5 ships of 4,200 to 5,000 teu starting with the 4,822 teu MAERSK MAKUTU at Tanger Med on 11 May 2026. (Originally scheduled to launch on 4 May but delayed by 1 week)