The Bradfield Bulletin - 16 May 2025

Posted by Amanda Bradfield
|
16 May, 2025

MOST people’s week started with the Trump–China trade war climbdown.

Mine started with my eldest daughter finding a random tooth on her bedroom floor. For context, she’s well past the tooth losing stage - so naturally, the finger-pointing turned to her little sister. I’ll let you all sit with that for a moment and image the chaos that followed. 🤣

This week’s top stories focused on the US-China deal and fears of the surge in volume that was predicted to create COVID style chaos, woah nelly. While this narrative has now certainly simmered down, analysts are saying that the earlier downturn that was felt, and the current surge that is expected, does have the potential to create real operational disruptions and of course the increase costs that come with it.

Not included below, the Houthis have launched another missile at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, disrupting air traffic. This marks the third attack in 24 hours, indicating that the recent U.S.-brokered ceasefire applies only to attacks on U.S. ships.

And we can't forget the MSC Antonia grounding, further analysis pointing to GPS jamming as the cause. As of time of writing, the vessel still shows that it is aground.

What other news is out there?

💠 HD Hyundai launches Korea’s first welding humanoid with AI partners

💠 HK ship captain held over 2023 Baltic pipeline damage

💠 Swire opposes shipping donkey skins

💠 200 seafarers off Yemen may soon leave under U.S.-Houthi ceasefire

💠 Tanger Med wins contract to upgrade Liberia’s ports

💠 Port Authority of NSW appoints John McKenna as new CEO

💠 South Korea makes second major cocaine bust in weeks

💠 DHL to shut SoCal warehouse, cut 346 jobs

💠 Pilbara Ports launches new ship Wi-Fi program

💠 World first commercial e-methanol plant opens in Denmark

💠 Qatar Airways Cargo adds 180 tonnes capacity weekly to Australia