Summary
Freight news around August 13 shows Far East exports and front-loaded shipments still supporting ocean markets, while node-level risks are rising. Maersk benefited from Asian exports, higher spot rates and congestion that tightened effective capacity, and Long Beach kept July throughput near record levels. At the same time, Rhine low water is raising barge costs, a Rotterdam fuel-storage accident highlighted port-energy infrastructure risk, and Emirates SkyCargo’s UAE-to-Los Angeles satellite move shows continued demand for specialized high-value air cargo. In China, Wenzhou Customs opened appointment and expedited clearance channels after typhoon disruption, China’s Ministry of Transport released an integrated transport standardization plan, and Zhanjiang agricultural exports continued to grow, so exporters should manage booking, inspection, dangerous-goods compliance and perishable-cargo timing together.
Key Updates
Select a headline to expand the full update.
FreightWaves reported on August 13 that Maersk’s second-quarter revenue rose 20% year over year to USD 15.8 billion, EBITDA reached USD 3.0 billion, and full-year underlying EBITDA guidance was raised to USD 10.5-12.5 billion. The report pointed to Far East exports, higher spot rates, congestion on key trades and regional rerouting as drivers, with ocean loaded volumes up 4.1% and average loaded freight rates up 22%. For shippers, this means Asian export demand remains firm, but quotes should still check port congestion, inland connections and surcharges in the all-in cost.
Source: Maersk raises 2026 outlook again as earnings surgeFreightWaves reported on August 13 that the Port of Long Beach handled 928,508 TEU in July, its fourth-strongest month overall and second-busiest July in 115 years. Imports were almost flat at 467,461 TEU, exports rose 14.8% to 104,843 TEU, and empty containers fell 7.4% to 356,205 TEU. Through July, the port handled 5,758,086 TEU, up 1.2% year over year. For trans-Pacific shippers, the main U.S. West Coast gateway remains busy, so terminal appointments and inland delivery resources should be secured early.
Source: Top West Coast port sees second-best July on recordHapag-Lloyd updated its Rhine River low-water surcharge on August 13, adding lower gauge-level tiers for Emmerich, Duisburg-Ruhrort, Cologne and Kaub. The carrier said low water is again affecting barge transport through draft restrictions and warned that service cannot be guaranteed if levels reach defined critical points. European importers and exporters using German inland-waterway connections should budget for barge surcharges, rail or road alternatives, and changing terminal windows.
Source: Here’s an update on the Rhine River low water surchargeThe Maritime Executive reported on August 13 that an explosion during maintenance at Gunvor Energy’s Rotterdam facility killed one person and injured at least six, while power issues briefly raised concerns across parts of the port. The report noted Rotterdam’s role as Europe’s largest port and a major fuel supplier for the region and shipping industry; power had been restored by the afternoon and police were initially treating the incident as a workplace accident. The event is a reminder that European port risk includes energy, refinery and utility interruptions, not only container-terminal congestion.
Source: Explosion Kills One and Injures Others at Fuel Storage in Port of RotterdamEmirates announced on August 13 that Emirates SkyCargo transported Orbitworks’ Altair-1 satellite from Dubai World Central to Los Angeles on a Boeing 777 freighter ahead of an October launch. The company said it has moved more than 6,000 tonnes of aerospace and advanced-engineering cargo in 2026 and expanded its freighter network to more than 60 destinations. For high-value equipment, precision instruments and aerospace cargo, air freight planning should cover environmental controls, vibration limits, security, ground handling and main-deck capacity.
Source: Emirates SkyCargo transports Orbitworks’ Altair-1, the first commercial AI-enabled satellite developed and manufactured in the UAEChina Customs published an August 13 update saying Wenzhou Customs moved quickly after the typhoon once weather conditions allowed, opening appointment-based clearance and expedited release channels for backlogged cargo. For exporters affected by typhoons or heavy rain, recovery is not only about port reopening; customs inspection, appointment windows, container pickup, gate-in timing and customer delivery commitments all need to be reconnected in the same plan.
Source: 风退岗不停温州海关加急查验保畅通（图）China’s Ministry of Transport and four other agencies published the Integrated Transport Standardization Development Plan for the 15th Five-Year period on August 11. Although it predates August 13, it remains useful context for intermodal operations, electronic documents, data interfaces, transport equipment and service rules. Logistics providers should track how the standards move into ports, rail freight stations, air cargo terminals and warehouse systems, and assess TMS, WMS and customs-system changes early.
Source: 交通运输部 市场监管总局 国家铁路局 中国民航局 国家邮政局关于印发《综合交通运输标准化发展“十五五”规划》的通知Zhanjiang Customs said on August 13 that Zhanjiang agricultural exports reached RMB 1.84 billion in the first half of 2026, up 7.3% year over year, while second-quarter growth reached 14.4%, the fastest since the third quarter of 2022. The report highlighted customs-enterprise coordination, improved aquatic-product export procedures and a local inspection channel for fresh and perishable agricultural food products. Cold-chain and live or fresh cargo exporters should manage clearance timing, inspection documents, reefer temperature control and destination-country access rules together.
Source: 湛江农产品出口展现强劲韧性二季度增速创近年新高DH Logistics View
- Today’s operating picture combines demand resilience with fragile logistics nodes. Far East exports, trans-Pacific imports and carrier earnings show the market is not clearly cooling, but Rhine low water, Rotterdam port-energy disruption and Panama Canal waiting pressure can still change total landed cost quickly.
- DH Logistics recommends managing peak-season bookings, inland alternatives and special-cargo safeguards in one plan: ocean freight should track actual available space and port waiting time, European inland moves should monitor barge gauges and rail or road options, and high-value air freight should verify packaging, security and main-deck handling.
Planning Notes
- For Asia-to-North America shipments, secure space and inland delivery resources early instead of planning only from ocean ETD.
- For trans-Pacific and Far East export quotes, state congestion, transshipment, rerouting and inland-cost assumptions separately.
- For Long Beach and Los Angeles routings, verify terminal appointments, rail loading, chassis and warehouse receiving windows in advance.
- For cargo connected to Germany by Rhine barge, prepare rail or road alternatives and agree who pays low-water surcharges.
- For European energy, chemical and port-adjacent cargo, keep emergency contacts and diversion plans for utility or refinery disruptions.
- For high-value air cargo, confirm main-deck capacity, crate dimensions, environmental controls, vibration limits and ground-handling responsibilities.
- After typhoon disruption, update customs inspection appointments, terminal slots, container pickup and customer delivery dates together.
- Track electronic-document, data-interface and cross-mode connection requirements in China’s transport standardization plan, and assess system changes early.
Sources
View sources (8)
- International · Industry mediaMaersk raises 2026 outlook again as earnings surgeFreightWaves · 2026-08-13
- International · Industry mediaTop West Coast port sees second-best July on recordFreightWaves · 2026-08-13
- International · Company announcementHere’s an update on the Rhine River low water surchargeHapag-Lloyd · 2026-08-13
- International · Industry mediaExplosion Kills One and Injures Others at Fuel Storage in Port of RotterdamThe Maritime Executive · 2026-08-13
- International · Company announcementEmirates SkyCargo transports Orbitworks’ Altair-1, the first commercial AI-enabled satellite developed and manufactured in the UAEEmirates · 2026-08-13
- China · Official institution风退岗不停温州海关加急查验保畅通（图）海关总署 · 2026-08-13
- China · Official institution交通运输部 市场监管总局 国家铁路局 中国民航局 国家邮政局关于印发《综合交通运输标准化发展“十五五”规划》的通知交通运输部 · 2026-08-11
- China · Official institution湛江农产品出口展现强劲韧性二季度增速创近年新高湛江海关 · 2026-08-13