What moves your costs, your transit times and your cargo today.

THE DAY IN 30 SECONDS

• Spain is cutting diesel tax by 20 cents per litre during October and extending support for professional transport.
• Ocean schedule reliability in Asia fell to 32.3% in August, while delayed vessels arrived an average of 7.28 days late.
• Asia-North Europe freight rates fell 9% to about $3,400 per FEU despite port congestion.
• From today, the United Kingdom removes the transitional exemption that had avoided the 50% out-of-quota steel tariff for older contracts.
• The Commission is maintaining the 50-tonne CBAM threshold for now, which excludes 0.87% of embedded emissions.
• DFDS will double ro-ro frequency between Damietta and Trieste from 15 October with a second vessel.
• DHL Express will raise average UK rates by 5.9% from 1 January 2027.
• North American domestic intermodal has reached 21,697 containers per day, although truck-driver shortages are limiting drayage capacity.
• The Panama Canal will offer 33 daily transits from 15 October and restore a Neopanamax draught of 14.94 metres.

⚖️ TARIFFS AND TRADE POLICY

United Kingdom activates 50% out-of-quota steel tariff

The transitional exemption under the new UK steel safeguard measure ended on 30 September. From today, 1 October, imports of affected steel products exceeding the quota are subject to an additional 50% duty, including contracts signed before 14 March 2026 that had been eligible for the exception until yesterday.

Why it matters: The contract date no longer prevents the tariff for steel and covered-product shipments to the United Kingdom: quota availability and the correct tariff classification are now required. Under DDP, the cost remains with the seller; under DAP or CIP, it will normally be borne by the UK buyer as importer. Quota status affects pricing and shipment decisions.

What to watch: The exhaustion of each quota and allocation of quotas for the new quarter.

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🌍 REGULATION AND COMPLIANCE

Commission maintains 50-tonne CBAM threshold

The European Commission has calculated that the single 50-tonne threshold excludes 0.87% of emissions embedded in CBAM goods, using the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 as its reference. The result remains below the 1% regulatory limit, so the assessment does not currently require a change to the threshold.

Why it matters: SMEs importing less than 50 tonnes annually of CBAM goods retain, for now, the mass-based exemption. Once the threshold is exceeded, authorisation and emissions traceability are required; under DDP, the seller must have correctly structured its position as importer, while under DAP the obligation normally falls on the European buyer. The relevant measure is cumulative volume per importer, rather than volume per shipment.

What to watch: A future variation of more than 15 tonnes in the calculated threshold would require the Commission to adopt a delegated act.

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📊 FREIGHT RATES AND MARKET SIGNALS

Asia-Europe falls 9%, but delays sustain costs

The figure: $3,400 per FEU between Asia and northern Europe, down 9% in one week

Why it matters: Lower spot rates allow for the renegotiation of October departures, but do not eliminate costs arising from delays, misplaced equipment and omitted port calls. Under FOB or FCA, the buyer controls and pays for main carriage; under CIF, CFR, CPT or CIP, the seller incorporates the contracted freight. Rate validity, confirmed departure and written demurrage and detention terms remain material.

• Asia-North Europe fell 9%, to approximately $3,400 per FEU.
• Asia-Mediterranean declined 7%, to around $3,600 per FEU.
• Asia-US West Coast rose to $8,400 per FEU, its highest level of 2026.

What to watch: Several carriers are preparing general rate increases for late October, although they must still demonstrate that the market can absorb them.

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🚢 OCEAN SHIPPING