Summary
The June 28 brief prioritizes public international freight updates published or refreshed on the previous Asia/Shanghai calendar day. In ocean freight, Hormuz tensions have eased and traffic has recovered, but risk premiums and contingency routing have not disappeared; Drewry's container index remains elevated, keeping trans-Pacific pricing and peak-season expectations in focus. At ports, South Carolina Ports' phased Leatherman Terminal pause shows how trade uncertainty can shift gateway execution. In air cargo and intermodal, FedEx is targeting full MD-11F fleet return by the fourth quarter, while PSA Italy and Logtainer are improving Padua inland connectivity, underscoring the importance of resilient capacity and inland handoffs.
Key Updates
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The Maritime Executive reported on June 26 that oil prices fell and traffic volumes around Hormuz improved after regional tensions eased, while shipping experts still warned that risk had not disappeared. For container, project and energy-related cargo, restored sailing patterns do not mean risk cost immediately falls to zero. Carriers, insurers and shippers may continue to keep security assessments, surcharges and alternate-route plans in place. Orders moving through the Middle East, Indian Ocean and Gulf routes should still document war-risk, rerouting, bunker and transshipment assumptions in quotes.
Source: Oil Prices Fall as Hormuz Volumes Rise with Shipping Experts Saying Risks RemainDrewry's June 26 World Container Index update kept the composite index in a historically elevated 2024-2026 range, with trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe rate expectations still shaping short-term quotes. Exporters should not compare only the base ocean rate; GRI, PSS, bunker, destination and inland charges need to be separated, with quote validity and space protection confirmed. For early-July shipments, shippers should prepare cost comparisons for premium sailings, standard sailings and one-vessel delay scenarios.
Source: Drewry World Container IndexFreightWaves reported on June 26 that South Carolina Ports will temporarily shut down container operations at Leatherman Terminal because of trade uncertainty and volume adjustments. For shippers using U.S. East Coast gateways, this kind of terminal change can affect vessel calls, yard flows, appointment windows and inland drayage. Orders connected to Charleston and nearby inland points should confirm actual discharge terminal, terminal code, empty return location and rail or truck handoff well before arrival.
Source: Trade uncertainty leads South Carolina Ports to temporarily shut down container terminalContainer News reported on June 27 that Maersk updated intermodal fuel fees for Australia and New Zealand. These adjustments are not always the headline ocean rate, but they directly affect door-to-door quotes, destination delivery and importer landed-cost calculations. Exporters to Australia and New Zealand should itemize ocean freight, destination handling, inland fuel, waiting time and remote-area charges so buyers are not surprised by changed land-side costs after arrival.
Source: Maersk updates intermodal fuel fees in Australia and New ZealandAir Cargo News reported on June 26 that FedEx aims to have all MD-11F freighters back in service by the fourth quarter. For cross-border e-commerce, healthcare, spare parts and high-value cargo, recovery of widebody freighters inside a major express network can improve mainline resilience before peak season. Actual capacity, however, will still depend on security screening, hub congestion, regional airspace risk and fuel cost. Urgent air shipments should compare express, freighter block space, passenger belly capacity and sea-air options rather than relying on a single network.
Source: FedEx aims to have all MD-11Fs back in service by Q4Port Technology reported on June 26 that PSA Italy and Logtainer plan to strengthen rail and inland terminal connectivity around Padua. For European imports and distribution flows, inland train reliability, yard dwell and final-mile coordination can determine the total delivery cycle after ocean discharge. Customers using northern Italy and central European corridors should plan port congestion, rail cutoffs, inland storage free time and truck appointments together rather than buying ocean and inland legs separately.
Source: PSA Italy, Logtainer to enhance terminal connectivityRecent Air Cargo News coverage of Asian freighter networks shows operators continuing to strengthen freighter or charter capacity between East Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. Although part of this context was published before the previous calendar day, it remains useful while ocean rates are elevated and some shippers evaluate ocean-to-air conversion. Electronics, fast-fashion, healthcare and critical-parts customers should compare available capacity, cutoff time, screening requirements and transfer reliability across South China, East China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Southeast Asian airports.
Source: Air Cargo News - Asia air cargo network updatesDH Logistics View
- Today's main theme is that risk has cooled, but cost has not fallen at the same pace. Improved Hormuz traffic and lower oil prices help market sentiment, yet insurance, bunker, rerouting and security assessments often remain embedded in freight quotes with a delay.
- Elevated container spot rates and U.S. East Coast terminal changes both remind shippers that booking cannot be judged by one ocean rate alone. If discharge terminal, drayage, rail or warehouse windows change late, door-to-door cost may be harder to control than the base freight rate.
- In air cargo, fleet recovery and denser Asian networks give urgent and high-value cargo more buffer, but capacity is not equal across airports. Before peak season, air plans should be tiered by cargo value, lead time, screening complexity and destination delivery capability.
- For Europe and Australia-New Zealand lanes, land-side charges deserve close attention. Inland fuel fees, rail services and terminal connectivity are becoming important sources of quote variation.
Planning Notes
- For cargo moving through Middle East, Indian Ocean or Gulf-related routes, keep war-risk, bunker, rerouting and delay responsibility in the quote, with at least one alternate routing plan.
- For trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe bookings, lock quote validity, GRI/PSS terms and space protection so rates are not renegotiated close to cutoff while indices remain high.
- For Charleston or U.S. East Coast gateway cargo, confirm discharge terminal, terminal code, empty return point, rail plan and drayage appointment window early.
- For Australia and New Zealand door-to-door quotes, itemize inland fuel, waiting time, remote-area charges and destination fees, and explain the adjustment mechanism to customers.
- For urgent and high-value freight, prepare express, freighter block-space, passenger belly and sea-air options, with clear triggers for switching by cost and lead time.
- For European import distribution, combine port dwell, rail cutoff, inland terminal free time and final-mile appointment planning in one schedule.
- For new quotes this week, separate ocean, air, inland and customs risk so customers can see whether exposure is coming from freight rates, nodes or compliance.
Sources
View sources (7)
- Oil Prices Fall as Hormuz Volumes Rise with Shipping Experts Saying Risks RemainThe Maritime Executive · 2026-06-26
- Drewry World Container IndexDrewry · 2026-06-26
- Trade uncertainty leads South Carolina Ports to temporarily shut down container terminalFreightWaves · 2026-06-26
- Maersk updates intermodal fuel fees in Australia and New ZealandContainer News · 2026-06-27
- FedEx aims to have all MD-11Fs back in service by Q4Air Cargo News · 2026-06-26
- PSA Italy, Logtainer to enhance terminal connectivityPort Technology International · 2026-06-26
- Air Cargo News - Asia air cargo network updatesAir Cargo News · 2026-06-25