Summary
The June 23 brief prioritizes public international freight updates published or refreshed on the previous Asia/Shanghai calendar day. In ocean and ports, the Port of Virginia completed a 55-foot channel upgrade, while Drewry warned shippers to review whether emergency fuel charges overlap with standard BAF mechanisms. In air cargo, Noida International Airport offers the Delhi region an alternative gateway, but transpacific early-peak modal shifts remain constrained by airfreight capacity. European ground handling, South Asia inland fuel and diversion costs, and China's rare-earth export controls all point to the need to manage freight rates, customs exposure and supply-chain resilience together.
Key Updates
Select a headline to expand the full update.
FreightWaves and Port Technology International reported on June 22 that the Port of Virginia has completed an approximately USD 450 million channel-deepening project, taking Norfolk Harbor's commercial channel to 55 feet and making it one of the deepest commercial channels on the U.S. East Coast. The program also included channel-widening work completed in 2024, supporting more reliable ultra-large container vessel access. For shippers using U.S. East Coast gateways, this affects port selection, vessel stowage, tidal windows and inland intermodal planning.
Source: After $450M project, Port of Virginia goes deep to raise the bar among East Coast container gatewaysFreightWaves cited Drewry on June 22 warning that Middle East conflict and fuel volatility have led ocean carriers to add emergency bunker adjustment factors while standard BAF mechanisms also gradually reflect higher bunker prices, creating a risk that shippers pay twice for the same fuel increase. Drewry said some fuel-related charges rose sharply in the second quarter. Active and new ocean quotations should separate base freight, BAF, eBAF, EBS, PSS and emergency surcharges line by line.
Source: Are you overpaying? Why shippers should revisit emergency fuel surcharges nowThe Loadstar reported on June 22 that Noida International Airport is emerging as an alternative regional air-cargo gateway as Delhi Airport faces cargo-capacity pressure and Indian trade volumes expand. For northern India imports and exports, the new gateway could reduce pressure on the main airport and create more trucking, flight and handling options for electronics, e-commerce, pharma and time-critical parts. Customers still need to track actual launch pace, airline coverage, regulatory readiness and ground-handling maturity.
Source: NIA provides alternative gateway to congested Delhi for Indian air cargoThe Loadstar reported on June 22 that tight transpacific ocean capacity and an early retail-import peak are prompting some shippers to consider moving freight to air, but airfreight capacity is also constrained. The article noted that the National Retail Federation has called the 2026 retail import peak early and raised its June container import forecast. Airfreight can protect urgent orders, but shippers should not assume large volumes of standard cargo can switch from ocean to air without cost or capacity limits.
Source: Capacity constraints limit air cargo ability to assist with early peakAir Cargo News reported on June 22 that Worldwide Flight Services has won a five-year cargo handling contract with Geodis in Brussels. Brussels is a key European node for pharmaceuticals, e-commerce and high-value cargo, and stable ground handling affects cutoffs, sortation, temperature control and exception response. For European airfreight customers, ground-handler capability is as important to delivery reliability as airline capacity.
Source: WFS awarded five-year handling contract by Geodis in BrusselsMaersk published two South Asia customer advisories on June 22: a 3% EFS/IFS on base price for all Sri Lanka inland routes effective June 22, and revised Nepal inland haulage for the Biratnagar, Birgunj and Kathmandu corridors from June 16 due to diesel-cost increases and route diversion after the Vikramshila Setu closure. South Asia door-to-door quotes should be checked against price-calculation date, effective date, inland point and alternative-route cost inclusion.
Source: Maersk Customer Advisory Application of EFS & IFS charge- PAN Sri LankaSupplyChainBrain republished a Bloomberg report on June 22 saying China added MP Materials and USA Rare Earth to its export-control list. The direct logistics volume impact may be limited, but uncertainty around rare-earth equipment, materials and critical-mineral supply chains affects high-tech manufacturing, automotive, energy and defense-adjacent procurement plans. Companies handling controlled materials, dual-use goods or high-value components should review export-control screening, alternative suppliers and delivery buffers together.
Source: China Targets U.S. Rare Earths Firms in Response to Pentagon ListDH Logistics View
- Today's main pattern is a mix of stronger port capability and more volatile cost layers. The Port of Virginia's deepwater channel improves U.S. East Coast big-ship access, but fuel, PSS and emergency charges still change final landed cost.
- Airfreight is no longer a simple fallback for ocean delays. Noida's new gateway and the Brussels handling contract show node capability expanding, but transpacific early-peak air space remains tight, so customers need to decide early which SKUs deserve air conversion.
- Landside charges are becoming more dynamic. Fuel and route-related updates in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Europe show that door-to-door quotes must be refreshed by effective date, mode and inland point.
- Policy risk is also becoming part of logistics planning. Rare-earth export controls may not immediately disrupt general cargo, but for high-tech, automotive, energy-equipment and critical-component supply chains, compliance, supplier backup and inventory buffers need to be managed together.
Planning Notes
- For U.S. East Coast cargo, compare Norfolk/Virginia, New York-New Jersey, Savannah and Charleston by sailing schedule, dray distance, rail connectivity and congestion risk.
- Show base freight, BAF, eBAF/EBS, PSS, THC, inland fuel and destination charges separately in every new quote instead of relying on a single all-in number.
- For transpacific early-peak orders, tier SKUs by margin, delivery penalty and customer priority before deciding what can move by air and what must wait for ocean space.
- For northern India air cargo, monitor Noida and Delhi as a dual-gateway option, but keep main-airport and trucking backups until the new gateway proves stable.
- For European airfreight, confirm ground-handling cutoff times, temperature-control capacity, screening capacity and weekend/night operating coverage in addition to flight space.
- For South Asia door-to-door shipments, refresh Maersk or other carrier inland fuel, route-diversion and PCD rules before booking to avoid stale rates crossing effective dates.
- For rare-earth, electronics, automotive and energy-equipment supply chains, include export-control screening, alternative suppliers and safety stock in this week's procurement and logistics review.
Sources
View sources (10)
- After $450M project, Port of Virginia goes deep to raise the bar among East Coast container gatewaysFreightWaves · 2026-06-22
- Port of Virginia completes 55-Foot channel upgradePort Technology International · 2026-06-22
- Are you overpaying? Why shippers should revisit emergency fuel surcharges nowFreightWaves · 2026-06-22
- NIA provides alternative gateway to congested Delhi for Indian air cargoThe Loadstar · 2026-06-22
- Capacity constraints limit air cargo ability to assist with early peakThe Loadstar · 2026-06-22
- WFS awarded five-year handling contract by Geodis in BrusselsAir Cargo News · 2026-06-22
- Capacity growth not relieving airfreight market pressureAir Cargo News · 2026-06-22
- Maersk Customer Advisory Application of EFS & IFS charge- PAN Sri LankaMaersk · 2026-06-22
- Maersk Customer Advisory- Nepal Tariff Update Inland Haulage Revision Due to Fuel Cost Increase and Route Diversion Following Vikramshila Setu CollapseMaersk · 2026-06-22
- China Targets U.S. Rare Earths Firms in Response to Pentagon ListSupplyChainBrain / Bloomberg · 2026-06-22