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Posted by Amanda Bradfield
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2 April, 2026
THERE'S no denying it at the moment, everything just feels… expensive.
From groceries to utilities, and especially fuel, costs continue to creep up across the board. It’s not just businesses feeling the pressure; it’s all of us. There’s a real sense of uncertainty at the moment, and you can hear it in conversations with clients, suppliers, and even in everyday life.
With the Easter long weekend just around the corner, I think we’re all hoping for a small win, even if that’s discounted Easter eggs come Monday.
On the global front, the Middle East crisis continues to ripple through the shipping market.
Carriers have already pulled around 25% of capacity from Far East-Middle East trades, with that tonnage shifting into other lanes like India and the Mediterranean, adding to congestion at key hubs including Salalah, Khor Fakkan and Mundra. At the same time, rising oil prices are starting to weigh on demand, creating a fairly volatile rate environment.
Overlaying this, the energy picture is becoming more concerning.
The International Energy Agency has warned that global oil supply disruptions in April could be double what we saw in March, largely due to ongoing tensions around Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel shortages, particularly diesel and jet fuel, are already being felt in parts of Asia and are expected to flow through into Europe in the coming months.
There are also mixed signals coming out of the U.S., with President Donald Trump suggesting the conflict could wind down within weeks, while at the same time increasing pressure on allies, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already fragile situation.
So, what else is happening out there? There's just a few things this week.
💠 ONE to acquire a 30% stake in Hutchison’s terminal at Laem Chabang
💠 DP World boosts Jeddah capacity with new cranes
💠 Hambantota Port commits $108M to lift capacity to 2 million TEU
💠 “K” Line moves toward long-term bio-LNG use for its car carrier fleet
💠 Hapag-Lloyd increases its stake in JM Baxi Ports & Logistics to 50%
Today’s photo is of the MSC Shahar alongside at Patrick Terminal earlier this week.
At 261 metres in length, and sporting what appears to be a newly fitted bow windshield, she has now departed and is en route to Adelaide. These wind deflectors are designed to improve a vessel’s aerodynamic performance, helping reduce fuel consumption and, in turn, lower carbon emissions.
The MSC Shahar is currently operating as part of MSC’s Koala service rotation.
Have a safe and happy Easter break everyone!
