Blog
New requirements for importing steel into the EU from 1 October 2026
From 1 October 2026, new requirements apply to the import of a wide range of steel products into the European Union. Importers must now be able to demonstrate the country in which the steel was melted and poured.
Resilient Transpacific demand supports a firmer market
Transpacific ocean freight rates have regained momentum in August as US import demand remains resilient, export capacity from China tightens and carriers actively manage available...
Low Rhine water levels raises pressure on European inland freight
Exceptionally low water levels on the Rhine are placing growing strain on European inland freight networks. As barge payloads are reduced and some services become...
Local airfreight conditions matter most
Global airfreight demand remains above last year’s levels, but headline market figures are becoming less useful for shippers making real booking decisions. Capacity, pricing and...
Global freight market report – July 2026
EU and UK manufacturing activity is expanding, new orders are strengthening and inflationary pressures have eased in some areas, but businesses still face elevated transport...
Customer Advisory: China shipping disruption and India capacity pressure
Shipping schedules across eastern China remain under pressure after Typhoon Dolphin disrupted major ports and inland transport networks, compounding delays created by Typhoon Bavi just...
US customs reforms are reshaping import compliance
Moving goods into the United States has always required careful customs planning, but the compliance landscape is becoming considerably more demanding.
UK trade agreements are creating a more connected global trading network
The UK's international trade strategy is entering a new phase. Over the past year, a series of agreements with Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Gulf, Switzerland and...
Supply chains are adapting to a new reality in the Middle East
The latest escalation between the United States and Iran has reversed the tentative recovery seen across Gulf supply chains earlier this summer.
China’s new maritime code is changing the legal landscape for international shipping
China's most significant revision of its Maritime Code in more than 30 years is beginning to reshape the way international sea freight is managed. Although...
Air cargo liability is changing, and your insurance could be affected
The revised International Air Transport Association (IATA) Direct Air Waybill (DAWB) framework, which came into force on 1 July, has triggered one of the strongest...
Port congestion is at four year high and data is hiding it
Global container shipping is experiencing its most widespread port congestion in four years, yet many of the industry's headline performance indicators suggest the opposite.
Global freight market report – June 2026
Businesses across the UK and EU continue to operate in an environment where regional conditions, geopolitical events and shifting trade patterns are shaping supply chain...
Demand, disruption and capacity constraints tighten India’s shipping market
Ocean freight from the Indian Subcontinent has become one of the fastest-moving container markets of 2026.
US tariff policy shifts again
Trade into the United States has entered another period of uncertainty as new tariff proposals and ongoing legal disputes reshape the cost landscape. Rather than...
Supply chains face a prolonged ‘Hormuz’ reset
After months of disruption, tentative peace progress in the Middle East is beginning to shift market sentiment. Ceasefire agreements and renewed diplomatic frameworks have eased...
Ocean July rate hikes keep pressure on
A fresh wave of carrier rate increases scheduled for July is reinforcing just how tight global container markets remain.
Air capacity constraints keep rates elevated
Air freight markets are regaining stability following the reopening of Middle East airspace, but pricing and capacity conditions remain far from balanced.
Sustainability: What is real?
In our Sustainability Review 2025, we show a clear transition from old to new, a shift in how we view the world and our own...