Summary
Liners are restoring selected Suez routings, shortening some India–US East Coast transit times, while shippers still need to assess each sailing and security advisory. WorldACD reported a weekly rebound in global air cargo tonnage in mid-September, but regional trends diverged and rates remained above last year. China’s January–August port data showed growth in foreign-trade cargo and container volumes, while Zhejiang advanced plans for international logistics and multimodal connections. Separately, the US port-fee pause for China-linked ships remains out of step with the extended trade-truce timeline, and a Philippine terminal raised its fuel surcharge.
Key Updates
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FreightWaves reports that Maersk’s MECL service now routes via the Suez Canal, bringing the Nhava Sheva–Savannah voyage to about 28 days, roughly 10–14 days shorter than the Cape of Good Hope routing. CMA CGM is also restoring a related service. The return is gradual, so actual transit still depends on each sailing, port rotation, and regional security conditions.
Source: Suez return speeds up Savannah India service by 10-14 daysFreightWaves notes that the broader US–China trade truce has been extended to January 10, 2027, while the current pause on US port fees for China-linked or China-built vessels is still set to end on November 9, 2026. Unless USTR changes the notice, carriers may need to revisit port calls, vessel deployment, and surcharge arrangements.
Source: No mention of U.S.-China ship taxes in trade truceWorldACD’s September 28 week-38 update says global air cargo tonnage rose 2% week on week and 8% year on year during September 14–20, while global capacity was broadly stable. Tonnage declined week on week in the Middle East and South Asia and in Africa. The average global spot rate was about $3.45 per kg, still 33% above last year, with China’s pre-holiday demand adding pressure in some markets.
Source: WorldACD Weekly Air Cargo Trends 2026 – week 38The PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority authorized a 6.3% fuel surcharge on applicable Mindanao Container Terminal port-service charges from September 29 to October 5, up from 5.6% the previous week. Shippers and agents should confirm the effective week and applicable charge items and reflect the change in local port-cost estimates.
Source: Approved Mindanao Container Terminal fuel surcharge rises further to 6.3%PortCalls, citing Civil Aeronautics Board data, reports that accredited international air-freight forwarders handled about 175.1 million kg in the first half of 2026, up 15.4% year on year. Consolidation, breakbulk, and direct shipments all posted double-digit growth. This indicates expansion among local forwarding channels, but should not be read as total Philippine airport throughput.
Source: PH international forwarders’ air cargo climbs 15.4% in H1Data published by China’s Ministry of Transport on September 28 show national port cargo throughput of about 12.065 billion tonnes in January–August 2026, up 0.5% year on year. Foreign-trade cargo throughput was about 3.799 billion tonnes, up 2.8%, and container throughput was about 242.94 million TEU, up 4.0%. Overall growth was moderate, with foreign-trade cargo and containers advancing faster, providing a macro backdrop for port demand and trade-lane planning.
Source: 2026年1-8月港口货物、集装箱吞吐量China Transport News reports that Zhejiang recently held an international logistics supply-chain event in Jiaxing and opened freight routes from Jiaxing to Chicago and Luxembourg within a short period. The province plans to build around Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and strengthen multimodal hubs in Hangzhou, Jinhua (Yiwu), Wenzhou, and Jiaxing, connecting ports, airports, and inland logistics nodes.
Source: 浙江借数贸会东风共建国际物流供应链网络A September 28 forecast from the Yangtze River Maritime Safety Administration warned that parts of the Yangtze basin could see moderate to heavy rain or localized downpours, with light fog and reduced visibility possible at some key ports. Vessels, terminals, and cargo owners on the Yangtze should follow updated maritime forecasts and allow time for berthing and inland connections.
Source: 2026年9月28日11点长江气象预告DH Logistics View
- The September 28 picture is one of continued network adjustment, not a synchronized return across all services. Suez transits may improve transit times on selected South Asia–US East Coast routings, while the port-fee pause for China-linked vessels remains out of step with the wider trade-truce timeline. Make decisions against named sailings, port calls, contract terms, and workable alternatives.
- Pre-holiday volumes, air rates, and port fuel surcharges are moving in different directions. Confirm rate validity, local port charges, cargo cutoffs, and holiday operating schedules together, and keep practical alternatives available for weather or policy changes.
Planning Notes
- For India and South Asia cargo to the US East Coast, compare actual Suez and alternative-route schedules, quote validity, and security advisories; do not assume every sailing has returned.
- For US-bound cargo, ask carriers to confirm in writing which China-linked vessels and port fees are covered, how long the pause lasts, and how any future surcharge would be handled.
- Secure pre-holiday air capacity early and check spot rates, fuel charges, and cargo declarations by origin and destination.
- For cargo using Mindanao Container Terminal, confirm whether the September 29–October 5 surcharge applies; continue monitoring maritime alerts and terminal notices for Yangtze shipments.
Sources
View sources (8)
- International · Industry mediaSuez return speeds up Savannah India service by 10-14 daysFreightWaves / American Shipper · 2026-09-28
- International · Industry mediaNo mention of U.S.-China ship taxes in trade truceFreightWaves · 2026-09-28
- InternationalWorldACD Weekly Air Cargo Trends 2026 – week 38WorldACD · 2026-09-28
- InternationalApproved Mindanao Container Terminal fuel surcharge rises further to 6.3%PortCalls Asia · 2026-09-28
- InternationalPH international forwarders’ air cargo climbs 15.4% in H1PortCalls Asia · 2026-09-28
- China · Official institution2026年1-8月港口货物、集装箱吞吐量交通运输部 · 2026-09-28
- China · Industry media浙江借数贸会东风共建国际物流供应链网络中国交通新闻网 · 2026-09-28
- China · Official institution2026年9月28日11点长江气象预告交通运输部 / 长江海事局 · 2026-09-28