As the global economy continues to struggle with the complexities of supply chain management, international logistics is becoming increasingly important to businesses. Recently, air cargo prices began to rise ahead of China's National Day, and this trend is expected to further escalate in October. Soaring costs pose a major challenge for companies that rely on air freight.

The recent collapse of one of COSCO's containers at the Port of Piraeus has raised serious concerns about the safety of cargo transport. The port of Piraeus is one of the busiest in Europe and plays a vital role in global trade, so the impact of the accident is far-reaching.

A subsidiary of French shipping giant CMA CGM has made history by becoming the first foreign liner to operate a domestic route in the Philippines, a major development for the logistics and shipping industry. The move not only marks a milestone for CMA CGM, but also opens up new avenues for direct flight services to the region.

Global logistics services leader Maersk has decided to immediately halt any new sea cargo bookings to and from the country, a move that reflects Haiti's precarious security situation. The decision came after armed groups attacked the land route to a key supply port in Port-au-Prince, raising serious concerns about the safety and reliability of logistics operations in the area.

Hapag-Lloyd has announced a general rate increase (GRI) on routes originating from the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East to the US East Coast and Gulf Coast, a major move affecting global shipping. The changes will affect overall rates for Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU) and Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) shipments, key terms in international trade.

In recent months, the conflict in Yemen has continued to escalate, with Houthi armed attacks severely affecting the Red Sea routes. The turmoil has led to disruption in the international logistics sector, especially for freight forwarders and shipping companies operating in the region. The strategic importance of the Red Sea as a major shipping lane cannot be overstated, as it connects Europe, Asia and Africa and facilitates the global flow of goods.

Recent industrial action at U.S. Eastern and Gulf Coast ports has caused serious concern in the trucking industry. With 36 ports at risk of complete closure, the impact on freight forwarders and shippers will be profound. These ports are key nodes in global supply chains, facilitating the movement of goods within and outside the country.

With shipping costs rising significantly in the eastern United States (expected to rise 30% in October), businesses engaged in dropshipping and delivery-duty-paid (DDP) transactions must prepare for the impact of these changes. The surge in transportation costs is not only expected to affect the eastern region, but is also expected to spread to the western United States, causing ripple effects across the country.

It was reported on July 16 that a group of senior executives from heavyweight US companies will visit China next week.
The United States is considering tougher measures to pressure Japan and the Netherlands to limit their chip trade with China.
On a happy note, Goldman Sachs pointed out that the re-election of Donald Trump as U.S. president could "wipe out" earnings growth for European companies next year because of the possible reintroduction of import tariffs.

On April 11 local time, the British government announced that it would suspend import duties on more than 100 goods by June 2026. British government sources said that 126 new tariff suspensions will be imposed on goods produced in insufficient quantities in the UK, and 11 goods will be extended.