VLCC Rates Hit Record $436,000/Day as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Tightens Supply — VLCC spot rates have surged to unprecedented levels, with rates reaching $436,000 per day following geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

CMA CGM Cuts Outlook, Raises Rates Amid 2025 Downturn — CMA CGM reported declining 2025 revenue and profit, prompting aggressive rate increases and new surcharges to defend margins in a weakening market.

CMA CGM Enhances Eagle Express 1 Japan-US West Coast Service — CMA CGM has upgraded its Eagle Express 1 (EX1) service with additional Japanese port calls at Kobe, Nagoya, and Yokohama, creating a weekly U.S.-flag route designed to reduce transit times and increase capacity on the Japan-U.S.

ONE Eliminates Xiamen Call from PN1 Transpacific Service — Ocean Network Express (ONE) will eliminate Xiamen port calls from its Pacific North 1 (PN1) service beginning fiscal 2026 as part of broader Premier Alliance network optimization efforts.

LNG Tanker Rates Double to $200,000/Day Amid Qatar Production Halt — LNG tanker rates in the Atlantic Basin doubled to $200,000+ per day following QatarEnergy's halt of production in response to escalating U.S.-Iran tensions.

Kuehne+Nagel Cuts 2,000 Jobs Amid Middle East Air Cargo Crisis — Kuehne+Nagel is laying off 2,000 workers as Middle East conflicts disrupt global air freight capacity and create severe backlogs at Asian airports.

TAP Air Portugal Appoints Aeroprime as Exclusive India Cargo GSSA — TAP Air Portugal has designated Aeroprime Group as its exclusive cargo General Sales & Service Agent across India, effective March 2026, strengthening the Portuguese carrier's operational footprint in a key emerging market.

Air Cargo Demand Grows 6% Despite Middle East Disruptions — Global air cargo volumes climbed 6% year-over-year in February despite Middle East tensions removing 12% of global cargo capacity through airspace closures, creating supply-demand imbalances pressuring rates.

DHL Group Exceeds EUR 6.1B Operating Profit Guidance Despite Revenue Decline — DHL Group delivered operating profit of €6.1 billion in 2025, surpassing its €6.0 billion guidance floor despite a 1.6% revenue decline to €82.9 billion driven by currency headwinds and softer U.S.-bound volumes.

Thomas Schürmann Appointed Managing Director Germany of Frankfurt Cargo Services — Thomas Schürmann has been named Managing Director Germany of Frankfurt Cargo Services (FCS), a subsidiary of WFS/SATS, effective April 2026.

TIACA and HACTL Extend Rising Star Award Sponsorship Through 2028 — TIACA and Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd.

Middle East Airspace Closures Eliminate 12-18% of Global Air Cargo Capacity — Gulf airspace closures and hub restrictions are constraining 12-18% of global airfreight capacity, forcing carriers to reroute flights through longer corridors and redirect cargo toward Asian gateways.

Chapman Freeborn Mobilizes Emergency Flights as Gulf Aviation Crisis Deepens — Chapman Freeborn has activated 24/7 emergency operations to provide passenger and cargo flights amid the Middle East aviation crisis, with over 2,000 flights cancelled at major Gulf airports.

Lufthansa Cargo Returns to Global Top Five with 29% EBIT Growth — Lufthansa Cargo posted 29% EBIT growth reaching €324m in 2025 on 4% revenue increase to €3.4bn, driven by robust Asian demand and strategic capacity expansion.

Wamos Air Renews Long-Term ULD Management Deal with Jettainer — Spanish cargo carrier Wamos Air has extended its partnership with Jettainer for unit load device management services, securing continued access to modern cargo containers across its fleet operations.

CHAMP Expands Cargospot Weight & Balance Support for Boeing 777-300ERSF — CHAMP Cargosystems has become the first software provider globally to offer full Weight & Balance support for Boeing 777-300ERSF freighter aircraft through its Cargospot solution in live operations.

TIACA Director General Glyn Hughes Steps Down — The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) confirmed Glyn Hughes is stepping down as director general, a position he held since February 2021.

Global Air Cargo Demand Grows 5.6% in January Despite North America Decline — Global air cargo demand increased 5.6% year-over-year in January 2026, outpacing 3.6% capacity expansion, while Africa led regional growth but North America contracted.

Oman Air Cargo Suspends Five Middle East Routes Due to Airspace Closures — Oman Air Cargo has suspended all flights to five key Middle Eastern hubs—Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Dubai—due to regional airspace closures, disrupting a critical air freight corridor connecting Asia-Europe trade lanes.

Teesside Airport Secures Landmark China Cargo Route Partnership — Teesside International Airport has secured a multi-million-pound deal with European Cargo to operate five weekly flights to China, delivering 375 tonnes of cargo capacity weekly and marking the airport's first long-haul airfreight service.

Kuehne+Nagel Reports CHF 925M Earnings Despite 25% Decline — Kuehne+Nagel posted CHF 24.5 billion revenue and CHF 925 million earnings for 2025—down 25% year-over-year—but maintained its position as the world's largest airfreight forwarder with 2.2 million tonnes despite DSV's Schenker acquisition.

Diesel Prices Surge to Multi-Year Highs on Middle East Conflict — Diesel prices have jumped to their highest levels since 2022 following escalation in the Middle East conflict, with futures and retail prices outpacing crude oil gains.

Supreme Court Weighs Stricter Liability Standards for Freight Brokers — The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Montgomery v.

Kenworth Unveils C580 Heavy-Haul Tractor to Replace C500 Model — Kenworth launched the C580 extreme-duty tractor as successor to its aging C500 model, featuring upgraded powertrain options and enhanced configurations for heavy-haul and specialized applications.

Mack Trucks Debuts All-New Keystone and Redesigned Granite — Mack Trucks unveiled its all-new Keystone vocational tractor and redesigned Granite model at CONEXPO 2026, expanding its lineup for construction, waste, and heavy-duty applications.

FMCSA Pilots Split-Sleeper and Clock Pause HOS Rules — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is recruiting commercial truck drivers for pilot programs testing flexible hours-of-service rules, including clock-pausing mechanisms and modified sleeper-berth provisions.

California Cancels 13,000 Non-Domiciled CDLs Amid March 6 Federal Deadline — California's DMV cancelled approximately 13,000 non-domiciled CDLs effective March 6, 2026, following federal mandate requirements that threatened the state's CDL-issuing authority.

Wyoming Expands ELP Enforcement to All Officers with $1K Penalties — Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed legislation expanding English Language Proficiency enforcement from Highway Patrol to all state officers, while implementing $1,000 fines and potential jail time for repeat violators.

Peterson Debuts Genesis Fail-Safe Truck and Trailer Light at Industry Events — Peterson Manufacturing is unveiling its Genesis fail-safe truck and trailer lighting system at Work Truck Week and TMC industry events, marking the company's latest advancement in commercial vehicle safety technology.

TCA Names Five Professional Drivers of Year at Annual Convention — The Truckload Carriers Association honored five U.S.

Quarterhill Expands Massachusetts Weigh-in-Motion Network — Quarterhill Inc.

Federal Court Blocks Trump Administration's NYC Congestion Pricing Halt — A federal judge ruled that the U.S.

ACT Expo 2026 Features 400 Fleet Executives on AI and Zero-Emission Tech — Nearly 400 fleet executives will convene at ACT Expo 2026 in Las Vegas this May to discuss AI, autonomy, zero-emission vehicles, and connected technologies, with FedEx Freight's incoming CEO John Smith delivering the keynote address.

CVSA Issues New Inspection Guidance on ELD Tampering, False Logs — The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has issued updated inspection protocols to help officers differentiate between standard logbook infractions and deliberate ELD tampering, with the latter triggering mandatory 10-hour out-of-service orders.

FMCSA Administrator Defends Aggressive Safety Enforcement at Industry Events — FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs defended the agency's recent regulatory initiatives and committed to maintaining aggressive enforcement to remove unsafe carriers from the industry at multiple trucking conferences.

EU Unveils Integrated Maritime Strategy Linking Ports and Defense — The European Union has introduced a comprehensive maritime and ports strategy that merges commercial shipping operations with defense capabilities, aiming to strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy.

ICTSI Reports $1.05B Net Income on 23% Growth, 11% Volume Increase — International Container Terminal Services Inc.

Port of Bilbao Advances Energy Transition Despite 6.8% Volume Decline — Port of Bilbao processed 32 million tonnes in 2025, a 6.8% decline partly due to planned Petronor refinery downtime from May-July, but advanced strategic priorities in energy transition, infrastructure, and digitalization.

Thoma Bravo Acquires WWEX, Merges with Auctane for Logistics Platform — Private equity firm Thoma Bravo is acquiring Dallas-based 3PL WWEX Group—which operates Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, and Unishippers—and merging it with portfolio company Auctane to create an integrated logistics platform.

WFS Completes Aviapartner Cargo NV Acquisition at Brussels Airport — Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a SATS subsidiary, has completed its acquisition of Aviapartner Cargo NV at Brussels Airport, expanding its European ground handling footprint.

NYK and Ocean Yield Exercise LNG Carrier Options, Expand Fleet to Eight Ships — Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Ocean Yield exercised options for four additional LNG carriers at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, doubling their joint orderbook to eight vessels for long-term charters with Cheniere Energy.

Diana Raises Genco Bid, Agrees Star Bulk Asset Sale in Dry Bulk Consolidation — Diana Shipping increased its all-cash offer to acquire Genco Shipping & Trading while simultaneously agreeing to sell 16 vessels to Star Bulk Carriers, creating a complex three-way consolidation in the dry bulk sector.

GTT Secures LNG Carrier Tank Design Order from Samsung Heavy Industries — GTT received a Q1 2026 order from Samsung Heavy Industries to design cryogenic tanks for a 180,000-cubic-meter LNG carrier for a European ship-owner, reinforcing sustained demand in the LNG shipping sector.

South Korean Owners Order Four Boxships from Chinese Yard — South Korean operators Namsung Shipping and Dongyoung Shipping ordered four containerships from China State Shipbuilding Corporation's Huangpu Wenchong yard—two 4,300-teu vessels and two 1,900-teu feeders.

Japan-New Zealand Hydrogen Corridor Launched by Four-Party Consortium — A consortium led by Mitsui OSK Lines, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Obayashi, and Chiyoda will develop green hydrogen production in New Zealand with export logistics to Japan, targeting commercial imports by the early 2030s.

4RCargo Appoints Olga Palec-Furga as Chief Operating Officer — 4RCargo has named industry veteran Olga Palec-Furga as Chief Operating Officer, tasking her with spearheading global market expansion and strengthening operations in Eastern Europe.

DHL CEO Tobias Meyer Contract Extended Through March 2031 — DHL extended CEO Tobias Meyer's contract through March 2031, signaling board confidence in his leadership since taking the helm in May 2023.

UECC Orders Two Multi-Fuel Battery Hybrid PCTCs from Chinese Yard — United European Car Carriers (UECC) has ordered two additional multi-fuel battery hybrid Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs) from China Merchants Jinling shipyard, bringing its total newbuild fleet under construction to four vessels.

Subsea7 CEO John Evans to Step Down, Seaway7's Fitzgerald to Take Helm — Subsea7 CEO John Evans will retire on June 30, 2026, with Stuart Fitzgerald, current CEO of Seaway7, taking over as chief executive on July 1, 2026.

Asso.subsea Orders Second Trenching Support Vessel from China Merchants — Greek subsea contractor Asso.subsea has exercised an option with China Merchants Heavy Industry to build a second next-generation trenching support vessel (TSV) at its Shenzhen shipyard, following its September 2025 order for sister ship Avra.

Velesto Energy Secures Five-Year Petronas Drilling Contract — Malaysia's Velesto Energy has secured a five-year drilling contract with Petronas Carigali for its 2009-built Naga 2 jackup rig, with operations commencing in February.

Major Ocean Carriers Order 38+ VLCCs as Tanker Market Surges — Eastern Pacific Shipping secured two additional 306,000-dwt VLCCs from Hengli Shipbuilding, expanding Chinese shipbuilder Hengli's total VLCC orderbook to 38 vessels, while Korea Marine Transport Co contracted six feeders with HD Korea Shipbuilding worth $258 million.

cargo.one Acquires Cargofive to Build AI Multimodal Platform — cargo.one has completed its acquisition of ocean rate platform Cargofive, combining air and ocean freight capabilities into a unified logistics platform.

DHL Supply Chain Builds Carbon-Neutral Logistics Center in Rheinbach — DHL Supply Chain is constructing a carbon-neutral logistics facility at Wolbersacker industrial park in Rheinbach, Germany, expanding capacity in the strategically important Rhineland region.

Rivian Warehouse Worker Dies in Loading Dock Crushing Incident — A 61-year-old worker was fatally crushed between a tractor-trailer and loading dock at Rivian's Illinois warehouse facility on March 5th, prompting an OSHA investigation into the incident.

SpeedX Appoints Tim Lock as Chief Product Officer — Tech-enabled last-mile delivery platform SpeedX has appointed Tim Lock as Chief Product Officer as the company scales operations across over 12,000 U.S.

Toyota Consolidates Automation Units Under Toyota Automated Logistics Brand — Toyota Industries Corporation is launching Toyota Automated Logistics (TAL) on April 1, consolidating three major acquisitions—Bastian Solutions, Vanderlande's warehousing division, and viastore—into a unified global warehouse automation platform.

IFS Completes Softeon Acquisition to Merge AI with Warehouse Management — IFS has completed its acquisition of Softeon, integrating the company's Industrial AI platform with Softeon's two-decade warehouse management expertise into a unified platform operating as IFS Softeon.

Shipping Industry Seeks Clarity on Trump's Gulf Insurance Plan — The Trump administration unveiled a maritime insurance guarantee and naval escort program for Persian Gulf shipping, but industry leaders including BIMCO are demanding operational details before backing the initiative.

Trump Pledges Navy Escorts and Federal Insurance for Hormuz Shipping — The Trump administration announced US Navy escorts and federal insurance backing for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran's assertions of control over the strategic waterway.

Qatar Energy Minister Warns Gulf Could Halt All Energy Exports — Qatar's Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi warned that sustained Iran conflict could force all Gulf energy producers to halt exports within weeks, potentially driving oil prices to $150 per barrel.

CK Hutchison Escalates Panama Port Fight with $2B Damages Claim — CK Hutchison is escalating its legal dispute with Panama over the seizure of the Balboa and Cristobal terminals, demanding $2 billion in damages and pursuing additional legal remedies following Panama's February 23 executive decree.

22 States Sue to Block Trump's 10% Global Tariff — Over 22 U.S.

War Risk Insurance Remains Available for Hormuz Transits — Marine insurers including Lloyd's of London have confirmed that war risk coverage remains available for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, providing market stability amid regional tensions.

Sanctioned Russian LNG Carrier Arctic Metagaz Sinks in Mediterranean — The Russian LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz sank in the central Mediterranean following explosions and fire, with Moscow blaming a Ukrainian drone attack while other accounts suggest possible military action.

Trump Administration Launches $20B Reinsurance Plan to Restore Hormuz Shipping — The Trump administration unveiled a $20 billion maritime reinsurance facility to stabilize commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has collapsed due to ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran.

Major Carriers Reroute Gulf Services as Security Risks Surge — Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Gemini, and other major container lines are suspending or rerouting Persian Gulf services due to escalating regional security threats.

Major Carriers Suspend Middle East Services Amid Regional Conflict — Leading container lines including Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, Neptune Pacific, Wan Hai, ONE, and Regional Container Lines have suspended or restricted services across the Middle East and Persian Gulf in response to escalating regional tensions.

US Grants India 30-Day Waiver for Russian Oil at Sea — The U.S.

War Risk Premiums Spike 1,000% in Persian Gulf Amid Regional Tensions — War-risk insurance premiums for vessels transiting the Persian Gulf have surged over 1,000% as regional military tensions escalate, with reinsurers tripling general maritime coverage costs.

Trump's 15% Tariff Hike Stalls EU Talks, Faces Court Challenges — The Trump administration is set to implement a 15% global tariff increase this week, but faces significant legal obstacles including federal court orders on tariff calculations and questions about importer refund liabilities.

Strait of Hormuz Crisis Disrupts 4% of Global Dry Bulk Trade — Escalating Middle East tensions are disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, affecting 4% of global dry bulk shipping and creating volatility across grain, coal, and ore markets.

Asian Refiners Shift to US Oil Barrels as Middle East Risks Rise — Asian refiners are shifting crude sourcing to US Gulf Coast barrels amid Middle East geopolitical risks, forcing shippers to deploy smaller tankers due to cost pressures on conventional mega-tankers.

Iran Targets Western-Linked Vessels, Denies Full Hormuz Closure — Iran claims it is selectively targeting Western and Israeli-linked vessels in the Strait of Hormuz rather than implementing a full closure, though restrictions have severely disrupted maritime traffic through the critical energy chokepoint.

India Grants Emergency Docking to Iranian Naval Vessels Amid Regional Crisis — India permitted Iranian warship docking as a humanitarian gesture amid escalating US-Iran tensions, with the IRIS Lavan receiving emergency docking following mechanical failures in the Arabian Sea.

Sweden Seizes Suspected Stateless Cargo Ship in Baltic Sea — Swedish authorities seized a cargo vessel in the Baltic Sea suspected of operating without flag state registration, reigniting concerns about illicit cargo linked to Russian sanctions evasion amid the Ukraine conflict.

US Oil Records Largest Weekly Gain Ever as Iran Conflict Escalates — US crude oil posted its largest weekly gain on record as the escalating Iran conflict disrupts energy supplies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint handling roughly 21% of global oil trade.

Kuwait Declares Force Majeure, Reduces Oil Production Amid Middle East Conflict — Kuwait declared force majeure and reduced crude oil production and refining throughput as a precautionary measure following Iranian attacks in the escalating Middle East conflict.

Over 20,000 Seafarers and Cruise Passengers Stranded in Persian Gulf Crisis — More than 20,000 seafarers and 15,000 cruise passengers are trapped in the Persian Gulf following escalated shipping disruptions, with the IMO formally declaring a humanitarian and labor crisis as of March 5.

Four Seafarers Killed in Latest Hormuz Attack as IMO Warns of Crew Safety Crisis — At least four seafarers were killed in an attack on a salvage tug near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting IMO officials to warn about escalating threats to civilian maritime crews in the critical shipping lane.

Qatar Resumes LNG Operations After Force Majeure Declaration — Qatar has loaded its first LNG cargo since declaring force majeure due to Middle East conflict escalation, marking a critical restart for global energy markets already strained by regional instability.

Iranian Missile Strikes Target Multiple Vessels Including Oil Tanker and Tug — Iran claimed responsibility for a missile strike on a U.S.

China Negotiates with Iran for Safe Oil Ship Passage Through Hormuz — China is conducting diplomatic talks with Iran to secure safe passage for oil and LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz as regional conflict disrupts global energy routes and spikes crude prices 15%.

ITF Grants Seafarers Right to Refuse Hormuz Transit Amid Crisis — The International Transport Workers' Federation has granted seafarers the right to refuse transit through the Strait of Hormuz due to escalating security threats, marking a significant shift in maritime labor protections.

Bunker Prices Surge 25% in Week 10 Amid Middle East Tensions — Global bunker prices spiked sharply in Week 10, with the 380 HSFO index surging 24.9% to USD 565.22/MT amid Middle East geopolitical tensions, according to MABUX analysis.

Oil Surges Past $90 as Iran Crisis Roils Global Energy Supply — Brent crude jumped to $90 per barrel—its highest since April 2024—as the Iran conflict disrupts Middle East energy flows and threatens the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint handling 20 million barrels daily.

Two Million TEU of Cargo Stranded as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Deepens — Approximately 2 million TEU of ocean cargo remains stranded as the Strait of Hormuz stays effectively closed for a fifth consecutive day due to escalating US/Israel-Iran tensions.

Malta-Flagged Container Ship Hit by Projectile in Strait of Hormuz — A Malta-flagged container vessel sustained a direct projectile hit in the Strait of Hormuz, igniting an engine room fire that forced evacuation of all 24 crew members (21 Egyptian, 3 Ukrainian).

Tanker Explosion Off Kuwait Escalates Gulf Maritime Security Crisis — A tanker anchored off Kuwait experienced a major explosion with a small vessel spotted departing the scene, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations, marking the latest in a series of maritime incidents affecting critical Gulf shipping lanes.

MSC Terminates Arabian Gulf Shipments Amid Escalating Regional Crisis — MSC, the world's largest container shipping line, has terminated all Arabian Gulf shipments effective immediately, discharging containers at the next available port and passing deviation costs to customers.

Houthis Resume Red Sea Attacks After Suspending Trump Administration Deal — Yemen's Houthis are resuming missile and drone attacks on Red Sea shipping after suspending operations under a deal with the Trump administration, escalating disruption risks for the maritime corridor handling roughly 12% of global trade.

Maersk Suspends Middle East Services as IMO Condemns Strait of Hormuz Attacks — Maersk has suspended cargo acceptance and new bookings across key Gulf ports while restricting ocean freight services in response to escalating regional volatility, as IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemned attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and reiterated that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international maritime law.

Port of Oakland reported a 12% year-over-year decline in January container volumes, the steepest drop on the U.S. West Coast.

DB Schenker (now under DSV ownership) is consolidating 14 European warehouses into 6 mega-hubs. Expect disruption through Q2.

India's Sagarmala program approved $2.1B in new port infrastructure spending, targeting 8 coastal projects for completion by 2028.

FedEx quietly expanded its autonomous delivery pilot with Nuro to 3 new U.S. metros (Austin, Nashville, Phoenix).

EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) reporting requirements now cover shipping emissions. First compliance deadline: March 31.

Flexport launched an AI-powered customs classification tool that auto-assigns HS codes with 94% accuracy, cutting broker review time by 60%.

Maersk is piloting computer vision at APM Terminals Rotterdam to detect container damage during gate-in — 3-second scan per box.

Gatik (autonomous trucking) secured a $95M Series C to expand middle-mile autonomous routes. Now operating 35 daily routes for Walmart and Loblaw.

Project44 released a predictive ETA model claiming 40% fewer "surprise" delays through ML-based port congestion forecasting.