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.
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 vessel space.
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 unavailable, more containers are being pushed towards already constrained road, rail and intermodal alternatives.
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 costs, geopolitical uncertainty and uneven conditions across global freight markets.
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 a few weeks earlier.