-
Posted by Amanda Bradfield
- |
-
31 Jul, 2026
THIS week has been a tough one, with a winter cold settling in and making me appreciate something I usually take for granted... being able to breathe through my nose! Thankfully, I'm on the mend, but the shipping industry certainly hasn't slowed down while I've been under the weather.
The Middle East continues to dominate shipping headlines. Drone strikes damaged two gas vessels alongside at Egypt's Port of Damietta this week, raising concerns that attacks on commercial shipping could spread beyond the Red Sea into the Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, reports suggest the Houthis are considering a transit fee for vessels using the Bab el Mandeb Strait. While nothing has been announced officially, the proposal has fuelled concerns that commercial shipping through the region could remain complicated even after the conflict subsides.
Global container freight rates declined for a third consecutive week, with Drewry's World Container Index falling 3%. As the rush to ship cargo ahead of new US tariffs begins to ease, demand has softened, resulting in lower freight rates across the major east-west trade lanes.
After several weeks of declines, Intra-Asia rates appear to be stabilising, with Drewry's index unchanged this week. Middle East tensions, however, continue to impact Gulf trade lanes.
Closer to home, many carriers implemented FAK rate increases for the first half of August, with some also announcing General Rate Increases (GRIs) for the second half of the month. Whether the market accepts those increases remains to be seen.
It hasn't been the smoothest week for Australian shipping either. Vessel omissions, changes to port rotations and terminal congestion at several ports have all created operational challenges, with the flow-on effects continuing to impact cargo movements and vessel schedules.
So, what else is happening out there?
💠 Spain and France face worst wildfire season on record
💠 CMA CGM tipped to acquire French rail freight stake
💠 Pilbara Ports sets record 804.1 million tonne trade volume
💠 Low Rhine water levels threaten European energy supplies
💠 Mike Gallacher GAICD CEO Ports Australia, awarded honorary doctorate
💠 CMA CGM reports strong Q2 earnings
💠 Korea-US shipbuilding partnership launched
💠 PanStar prepares South Korea's first Arctic Europe container service
💠 ACCC clears Hapag-Lloyd's acquisition of ZIM stake
💠 COSCO plans US$1.1bn Tianjin shipyard expansion project
💠 UK port volumes decline in 2025
💠 Port of Melbourne container volumes rise 7.3% in June
💠 Western Sydney International Airport opens for freight
Is there something I've missed that caught your attention this week?
Today's picture is of the APL Columbus alongside at DP World Fremantle earlier this week. At 329m long and 46m wide, she's certainly hard to miss. The vessel operates on the ANL/CMA CGM NEMO service.
Hope everyone has a great weekend ahead!
