Summary
This brief prioritizes freight information published or updated on August 26, 2026, the previous Asia/Shanghai calendar day, while adding an August 25 carrier fee update that still affects inland delivered-cost planning. In ocean freight, typhoon disruption is lengthening waiting times at major Chinese ports, Ningbo-Zhoushan has moved up in global container port rankings, and Black Sea attacks are making oil and grain flows less predictable. In China policy and data, port throughput continued to grow in the first seven months, while transport pilot cases and local logistics policies continue to support intermodal, digital and integrated freight-hub development. On costs, Italy intermodal fuel and Nordic emergency energy surcharges show why peak-season landed cost cannot be managed through base ocean freight alone.
Key Updates
Select a headline to expand the full update.
Hapag-Lloyd's August 26 Asia & Oceania operational update said waiting times at Chinese ports had increased following the impact of Typhoons BAVI, DOLPHIN and SAUDEL, and noted expected Shanghai and Ningbo closures from August 26 to 29. The update listed average waits at Shanghai Yangshan of roughly five to eleven days depending on vessel type or alliance, about three to six days at Ningbo, and around three to four days for larger vessels at Yantian. For East China and South China exports, post-typhoon berth recovery and vessel-network misalignment can continue to affect cut-offs, vessel changes, empty-container returns and delivery commitments.
Source: Week 35 – Asia & Oceania Operational UpdateThe Maritime Executive reported on August 26 that Alphaliner's latest throughput ranking shows Ningbo-Zhoushan overtaking Singapore in the first half of 2026 to become the world's second-busiest container port. The report cited about 8.8% first-half throughput growth at Ningbo-Zhoushan versus about 4.7% at Singapore, leaving Ningbo-Zhoushan ahead by roughly 158,000 TEU. The move reinforces Asia's port-center gravity, but shippers should still judge each shipment by weather, queues, alliance berthing windows and inland connections rather than port scale alone.
Source: Ningbo-Zhoushan Tops Singapore as World's Second Busiest Container PortThe Maritime Executive reported on August 26 that escalating attacks linked to Black Sea commercial shipping are affecting both Russian oil exports and Ukrainian grain exports. It cited multiple reports that Russian oil exports have fallen recently and that Ukraine's August grain exports could be down by about 60%. Ukraine has tried to divert more grain by rail, through Poland, and via the Danube and Romania, but low water, pilot shortages and terminal congestion limit replacement capacity. Contracts tied to Black Sea, Eastern European grain, oil or dry bulk should revisit force majeure, load-port waiting, alternative routing and insurance terms.
Source: Oil and Grain Exports Plummet as Ukraine and Russia Attack ShippingChina's Ministry of Transport published January-July 2026 port cargo and container throughput data on August 24, which remained an operating backdrop cited domestically on August 26. Read alongside short-term typhoon queues, the data shows that China's ports are balancing foreign-trade box-flow resilience with post-weather pressure on berths, yards and inland links. Exporters should combine official throughput data, weather alerts and carriers' actual berthing information when setting cut-offs and pickup timing.
Source: 2026年1-7月港口货物、集装箱吞吐量China's Ministry of Transport said on August 26 that the 2026 transport development conference released 12 pilot cases covering integrated transport networks, modal integration, safety, digital upgrades, green transition and institutional reform. For international freight companies, the practical implication is that ports, rail, roads, air cargo terminals, data platforms and green facilities are increasingly being managed as one operating-improvement agenda. Over time, that can affect intermodal efficiency and domestic-leg reliability.
Source: 交通运输部发布12项交通强国建设试点典型案例China Customs published an August 25 update on the second 2026 APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures meeting, focused on technology, innovation, trade facilitation and supply-chain security. For cross-border companies, this type of cooperation can affect clearance through AEO, single-window systems, data declarations, inspection coordination and risk-management requirements. Cargo produced, transshipped or distributed across multiple Asia-Pacific economies should preserve origin, supplier, routing and inspection evidence.
Source: APEC海关手续分委会2026年第二次全体会议举行Maersk said on August 26 that Italy intermodal fuel fee percentages will move to 16% for truck import and export and 8% for RCO import and export, applying from September 1 for non-FMC cargo and September 24 for FMC cargo. One day earlier, Maersk also announced a temporary Emergency Inland Fuel/Energy Surcharge for Nordic Store Door shipments due to Middle East fuel-supply disruption, with higher rates in Estonia, Latvia and Denmark among others. European door-to-door quotes should separate base ocean freight, inland fuel, PCD, effective dates and rail alternatives to reduce reconciliation disputes.
Source: Intermodal Fuel Fee update in ITALY; Emergency Inland Fuel/Energy surchargeAir Cargo News reported on August 26 that Baltic Ground Services will provide cargo-related handling support for My Freighter at three European airports. Ground-handling agreements may not immediately move market rates, but they affect an airline's executable capacity, turnaround reliability and ability to support ad hoc charters or scheduled cargo operations. For Central Asia, Europe and cross-border ecommerce flows, shippers should assess destination airport handling, truck connections and exception-management capability in addition to airfreight rates.
Source: Baltic Ground Services to handle cargo for My Freighter at three European airportsDH Logistics View
- Today's main theme is that weather, geopolitical risk, domestic hub capability and inland charges are jointly changing executable capacity. Typhoon recovery makes port waiting time a live booking variable in East and South China, Black Sea risk affects grain, oil and dry bulk routing, while China port data and intermodal policy determine whether export containers can be moved reliably into gateway ports.
- DH Logistics recommends avoiding port-to-port ocean freight as the only quoted number. Near-term quotations should also show port waiting, destination charges, inland fuel, insurance and alternative routing. For orders requiring stable delivery, confirm two plans before booking: one for normal schedule execution and one triggered by typhoon delay, port change, vessel change, rail-intermodal substitution or airfreight backup.
Planning Notes
- For East China and South China exports, check post-typhoon port reopening, cut-off changes and actual berthing windows, and keep room for vessel or port changes where possible.
- For Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shanghai shipments, do not rely on hub scale alone; monitor alliance queues, empty-container returns and inland connections.
- For Black Sea grain, oil or dry bulk contracts, review load-port waiting, insurance, force majeure and rail or Danube alternative capacity.
- For China exports, align cut-off and pickup timing with port throughput data, weather alerts and carriers' actual berthing information.
- For rail-road-port-air combinations, monitor transport pilot cases and local intermodal policies for changes in node service capability.
- For European door-to-door freight, itemize Italy intermodal fuel fees and Nordic emergency energy surcharges separately to avoid later billing disputes.
- For airfreight bookings, check destination airport handling, trucking links and exception-processing capability, not only the space price.
- For cross-regional deliveries, agree delay triggers, alternative routing and cost responsibility before shipping.
Sources
View sources (8)
- International · Company announcementWeek 35 – Asia & Oceania Operational UpdateHapag-Lloyd · 2026-08-26
- International · Industry mediaNingbo-Zhoushan Tops Singapore as World's Second Busiest Container PortThe Maritime Executive · 2026-08-26
- International · Industry mediaOil and Grain Exports Plummet as Ukraine and Russia Attack ShippingThe Maritime Executive · 2026-08-26
- China · Official institution2026年1-7月港口货物、集装箱吞吐量交通运输部 · 2026-08-24
- China · Official institution交通运输部发布12项交通强国建设试点典型案例交通运输部 · 2026-08-26
- China · Official institutionAPEC海关手续分委会2026年第二次全体会议举行海关总署 · 2026-08-25
- International · Company announcementIntermodal Fuel Fee update in ITALYMaersk · 2026-08-26
- International · Industry mediaBaltic Ground Services to handle cargo for My Freighter at three European airportsAir Cargo News · 2026-08-26