What moves your costs, your transit times and your cargo today.
Good morning. Capacity is again the common thread: the United States is delaying a maritime cost, ro-ro orders are accumulating and the Atlantic will lose sailings over Christmas. The moves point in different directions, but all affect space availability and shipment timing.
THE DAY IN 30 SECONDS
- The United States proposes delaying until 9 January 2027 the fees applicable to Chinese and Chinese-built vessels.
- The car-carrier orderbook has reached 26% of the fleet, although 64% of the tonnage will arrive from 2028.
- Hapag-Lloyd will cancel four transatlantic sailings between 24 December 2026 and 8 January 2027.
- Maersk is maintaining surcharges and operational contingencies linked to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Strait of Hormuz.
- London Gateway will again accept empty containers from 12:00 on 26 October, subject to a VBS booking.
- Fortaleza will tender on 9 December a terminal with planned capacity of 400,000 TEU a year.
- Riyadh has partially reopened two terminals, but much international air capacity remains suspended or diverted.
- Montenegro will fund the renewal of 39 kilometres of the rail corridor linking the port of Bar with Serbia.
TODAY IN FIGURES
⚖️ TARIFFS AND TRADE POLICY
US proposes a two-month delay to fees on Chinese vessels
The figure: proposed extension until 9 January 2027
Why it matters: the delay temporarily prevents carriers from passing an additional US port-call cost into freight rates. Under CIF and CFR, the seller contracts carriage; under FOB, the buyer bears it. Freight and any future US port fee remain separate cost components in commercial offers.
- The current suspension ends on 9 November, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative proposes extending it by two months.
- The original regime provides for Chinese-built vessels to face an initial fee of $18 per net ton or $120 per container.
- The period for submitting comments on the extension remains open until 30 October.
What to watch: the final decision and whether the extension continues to cover Chinese operators, Chinese-built vessels and foreign car carriers without changes.
📊 FREIGHT RATES AND MARKET SIGNALS
Car-carrier orderbook doubles its historical average
Why it matters: fleet growth could ease the cost of moving vehicles and rolling machinery, but not in the short term. Capacity contracted through 2028 remains relevant before pricing in future freight-rate declines.
- The orderbook equals 26% of the existing fleet, compared with a historical average of 14%.
- Some 64% of ordered tonnage is scheduled for delivery from 2028, meaning immediate supply will remain tight.
- Charter rates stand at around $95,000 a day, supported by growth in Chinese vehicle exports.
What to watch: the diversion of Chinese vehicles towards Latin America if Europe restricts their growth in the EU market.
Maersk maintains surcharges over the Middle East crisis
Maersk confirmed on 26 October that its transit disruption, peak season and emergency contingency surcharges remain in force for trades affected by the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Contingencies for specific vessels and shipments continue to be communicated case by case.
Why it matters: partial transit recovery does not necessarily remove surcharges. Under CIF and CFR they are initially contracted by the seller; under FOB they fall on the buyer. Commercial offers need to identify each surcharge, its geographical scope and its effective date.
What to watch: changes to Persian Gulf port calls and the effective withdrawal of surcharges, rather than merely the nominal resumption of routes.
🚢 OCEAN SHIPPING
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