Summary
The June 30 brief prioritizes public international freight updates published or refreshed on the previous Asia/Shanghai calendar day. In ocean freight, Strait of Hormuz risk brought Gulf surcharges and contingency routing back into focus, CMA CGM announced FAK and peak-season surcharge adjustments across several trades, and the transatlantic market remained relatively stable. In air cargo, IATA's May data showed global demand up 2.2% year on year, while CEVA announced an expanded Vietnam-U.S. transpacific charter network. In ports and supply chains, Santos advanced channel dredging, liner networks continued to shift toward regional ports, and a U.S. supplier filed a damages suit linked to a container-manufacturer antitrust case.
Key Updates
Select a headline to expand the full update.
The Loadstar reported on June 29 that security tension around the Strait of Hormuz is increasing attention from carriers, forwarders and shippers on Gulf surcharges, insurance and contingency routing. For Middle East import and export cargo, the risk is not limited to the ocean base rate; port congestion, local surcharges, war-risk insurance, land-side transfer and delivery commitments can all be repriced. Cargo moving to Gulf states, Iraq, eastern Saudi Arabia or UAE redistribution points should compare direct ocean, regional transshipment, land bridge and airfreight contingency options.
Source: Supply chains should take note as Strait of Hormuz surcharges riseIATA released May 2026 air cargo data on June 29, showing global demand measured in cargo tonne-kilometres up 2.2% year on year and available cargo capacity up 2.0%. The growth rate is modest, but air cargo still expanded despite trade-policy uncertainty, ocean-routing risk and changing cross-border e-commerce replenishment patterns. Exporters should not focus only on the single-month growth figure; airport screening capacity, trunk-route space, destination clearance and final-mile delivery are equally important when deciding whether to reserve block space or sea-air capacity.
Source: Air Cargo Demand Up 2.2% in MayContainer News reported on June 29 that CMA CGM announced new FAK rates and surcharge arrangements across multiple trade lanes. These updates usually vary by origin, destination, equipment type and effective date, so the real quote difference can come from a combination of base rate, PSS, low-sulphur fuel, port and regional surcharges. New inquiries should define ETD, bill of lading date, free equipment time, destination charges and whether transshipment is acceptable instead of treating the quote as a single ocean-rate number.
Source: CMA CGM announces new FAK rates and surcharges across multiple trade lanesAir Cargo News reported on June 29 that CEVA Logistics expanded its Vietnam-to-U.S. transpacific air cargo charter network, adding capacity for time-critical and resilience-focused supply chains. For electronics, apparel, consumer goods, healthcare and spare-parts customers, Vietnam export peaks are often shaped by ocean space, airport handling and U.S. destination delivery at the same time. Charter capacity can work for launches, stockout recovery and high-value urgent orders, but shippers need to verify chargeable weight, screening rules, distribution nodes and customs documents in advance.
Source: CEVA expands transpacific air cargo network with new Vietnam charterContainer News reported on June 29 that Brazil's Port of Santos is advancing a channel dredging project intended to improve access and vessel handling capacity. For South American exports such as agricultural goods, pulp, consumer goods and project cargo, channel depth and berth windows can affect large-vessel calls, transshipment planning and peak-season queue risk. Customers exporting from Brazil or importing into Brazilian inland markets should plan around dredging progress, truck queues, rail connections and holiday operating capacity.
Source: Santos Port advances dredging project to boost vessel accessThe Loadstar reported on June 29 that global container-port rankings and liner-network changes show more direct services and network roles shifting toward regional ports. For shippers, this can mean shorter inland distance, fewer transfers or more destination choice, but it can also create differences in sailing density, empty-equipment positioning, document cutoffs and exception recovery. When using a new direct regional-port option, customers should compare total port-to-door cost, cutoff reliability, fallback transshipment options and destination warehouse coverage rather than choosing only by proximity.
Source: Latest list of container ports sees a move towards regional marketsThe Loadstar reported on June 29 that, after U.S. Department of Justice charges related to container manufacturers, a U.S. supplier filed a damages lawsuit. This is not a shipment-level operating issue, but it is a reminder that equipment-market concentration, procurement transparency and compliance risk matter for supply-chain planning. Companies that rely on shipper-owned containers, special equipment or large peak-season equipment allocations should define equipment availability, substitute types, delay liability and exception procurement approvals in their contracts.
Source: US supplier follows indictment of container cartel with suit for damagesThe Loadstar reported on June 29 that the transatlantic ocean market remains surprisingly stable under current supply and demand conditions. Stability does not mean quotes can be left unchecked for long periods, especially when carriers adjust space, port congestion shifts, or fuel and surcharge terms change. Europe-North America shippers should continue weekly checks on schedule reliability, direct and transshipment services, free time, destination charges and rail or truck connections.
Source: Transatlantic carriers continue to enjoy a surprisingly stable marketDH Logistics View
- Today's main theme is that risk, capacity and node capability are shaping quotes at the same time. Hormuz risk puts insurance, surcharges and alternative corridors at the front of Middle East routing, while IATA's air cargo growth and CEVA's Vietnam charter expansion show that urgent freight is still looking for more reliable transpacific capacity.
- Ocean freight is not only about base rates. CMA CGM's FAK and PSS updates, stable transatlantic conditions and regional-port direct services all require shipment-level checks on origin, destination, equipment type, effective date and surcharge structure.
- Port and infrastructure news should be converted into practical operating checklists. Santos dredging may improve long-term access, but near-term plans still depend on berths, inland connections, yards and peak-season operations.
- For China and Asia exporters, current quotes should separately explain Middle East contingency routes, airfreight fallback options, South American port conditions, regional-port direct calls and equipment-compliance risk instead of presenting only one all-in number.
Planning Notes
- For Gulf and Middle East cargo, prepare direct ocean, regional transshipment, land bridge and airfreight contingency plans, with war-risk insurance, port surcharges and delay liability listed separately.
- For urgent airfreight or sea-air shipments, reserve chargeable weight, screening requirements, charter or fixed capacity, destination clearance and final-mile delivery early.
- When receiving carrier FAK, PSS or other surcharge notices, check effective date, bill of lading date, equipment type, origin, destination and transshipment applicability shipment by shipment.
- For Vietnam, South China and Southeast Asia exports to the U.S., compare charter, passenger belly, express and sea-air options by trigger point and maximum cost.
- For cargo through Santos or other South American ports, track channel and berth progress while confirming inland trucking, rail, yard free time and holiday operations.
- When evaluating regional-port direct services, compare total port-to-door cost, cutoff reliability, empty-container positioning and exception recovery capability.
- For special equipment, shipper-owned containers or large peak-season equipment needs, write substitute equipment, shortage liability and exception procurement approval into contracts.
- Even in a stable transatlantic market, review schedule reliability, free time, destination charges and inland truck or rail connections every week.
Sources
View sources (8)
- Supply chains should take note as Strait of Hormuz surcharges riseThe Loadstar · 2026-06-29
- Air Cargo Demand Up 2.2% in MayIATA · 2026-06-29
- CMA CGM announces new FAK rates and surcharges across multiple trade lanesContainer News · 2026-06-29
- CEVA expands transpacific air cargo network with new Vietnam charterAir Cargo News · 2026-06-29
- Santos Port advances dredging project to boost vessel accessContainer News · 2026-06-29
- Latest list of container ports sees a move towards regional marketsThe Loadstar · 2026-06-29
- US supplier follows indictment of container cartel with suit for damagesThe Loadstar · 2026-06-29
- Transatlantic carriers continue to enjoy a surprisingly stable marketThe Loadstar · 2026-06-29