Summary
Freight updates around October 16 point to rising volumes alongside continued supply-chain uncertainty. The Port of Long Beach handled a record number of containers in September, while UPS opened an expanded air hub in Clark, the Philippines. Singapore’s maritime authority earlier reported attacks on two Singapore-registered container ships in the Strait of Hormuz on October 13 and 14; one sank after a fire. Maersk lowered its New Delhi import dry-port surcharge, while demand, capacity and cost signals remain mixed across North American and European markets.
Key Updates
Select a headline to expand the full update.
The Port of Long Beach handled 997,177 TEUs in September, up 25% year over year and a new monthly record. Imports rose 31.3%, taking the import-to-export box ratio above 5:1. West Coast importers should watch how an extended peak season affects pickup windows and inland capacity.
Source: Record monthly container volumes at Port of Long Beach as imports soarUPS opened its new hub at Clark International Airport in the Philippines on October 15. The 30,000-square-metre facility can process an average of 46,000 packages a day and supports more than 1,100 trade lanes. UPS says some Asia-Pacific services can be up to two days faster; shippers should check lane coverage and cutoff times.
Source: UPS Boosts Service On Over 1,100 Global Trade Lanes With Opening Of New Philippines HubSingapore’s Maritime and Port Authority said two Singapore-registered container ships were struck by unknown projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on October 13 and 14. One caught fire and sank; all crew were safely evacuated. The authority’s statement was published October 14 and is included as risk context. Cargo linked to Gulf ports or transshipment should prompt a fresh review of vessel movements, insurance and contingency routing.
Source: Two Singapore-Registered Vessels Struck in Strait of HormuzEffective October 16, Maersk lowered its import dry-port surcharge for cargo destined for New Delhi. The 20-foot dry rate fell from INR 21,000 to INR 12,150; 40-foot dry and high-cube rates fell from INR 36,400 to INR 18,800. Confirm the destination, equipment type, effective date and other inland charges when comparing quotations.
Source: Dry port Surcharge (DPI) – World to New Delhi, INUS intermodal and logistics provider J.B. Hunt reported third-quarter revenue of USD 3.68 billion, up 20% year over year and above consensus estimates. The company also cited hiring investment and continuing cost pressure. The results suggest improving freight demand does not automatically translate into stronger margins; buyers should track both volume and service costs in North American intermodal procurement.
Source: J.B. Hunt experiences growing pains in Q3Asia Airfreight Terminal announced a 15-year franchise renewal at Hong Kong International Airport, covering 2028 to 2043, with plans to raise annual handling capacity to two million tonnes. Published October 13, this is earlier regional capacity context for the brief and signals a long-term investment in Hong Kong cargo services.
Source: AAT Renews Franchise for 15 Years at Hong Kong International AirportThe China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing reported a September logistics activity index of 51.5%, up 0.6 percentage points month on month; the new-orders index rose for a seventh consecutive month. Republished by the Liaoning provincial government website on October 12, this is earlier domestic market context indicating continued expansion signals into Q4.
Source: 中国物流业景气指数连续5个月扩张The Ministry of Transport’s weekly logistics bulletin for October 5–11 counted 3,950 cargo flights, including 2,490 international cargo flights, and tracked rail, road and port operations. Published October 12, the figures provide earlier context on the recovery of domestic transport supply after the holiday period.
Source: 10月5日—10月11日全国物流保通保畅运行情况DH Logistics View
- Two signals run in parallel: strong West Coast port volumes and additional Asian air-hub capacity, alongside continued uncertainty around Gulf maritime security. Assess risk against the shipment’s actual transshipment points instead of applying a regional alert to every lane.
- Surcharges need shipment-level checks. Maersk’s New Delhi adjustment applies to specified destinations and equipment types; confirm its effective date, contract scope and destination inland charges before booking.
Planning Notes
- For Gulf-linked cargo, reconfirm vessel identity, port calls, insurance coverage and alternative routing before dispatch, and allow time for possible transshipment changes.
- For high-volume US West Coast imports, pair strong port throughput with confirmed vessel schedules, pickup windows and inland trucking capacity.
- Recheck New Delhi quotes against Maersk’s revised surcharge table and retain written confirmation of applicable equipment and scope.
- When evaluating the UPS Clark hub, verify each origin-destination lane, committed transit time, temperature-control capability and cutoff time.
Sources
View sources (8)
- InternationalRecord monthly container volumes at Port of Long Beach as imports soarSeatrade Maritime News · 2026-10-16
- InternationalUPS Boosts Service On Over 1,100 Global Trade Lanes With Opening Of New Philippines HubUPS · 2026-10-15
- International · Official institutionTwo Singapore-Registered Vessels Struck in Strait of HormuzMaritime and Port Authority of Singapore · 2026-10-14
- International · Company announcementDry port Surcharge (DPI) – World to New Delhi, INMaersk · 2026-10-15
- International · Industry mediaJ.B. Hunt experiences growing pains in Q3FreightWaves · 2026-10-16
- China · Company announcementAAT Renews Franchise for 15 Years at Hong Kong International AirportAsia Airfreight Terminal · 2026-10-13
- China · Official institution中国物流业景气指数连续5个月扩张中国政府网（辽宁省人民政府转载） · 2026-10-12
- China · Official institution10月5日—10月11日全国物流保通保畅运行情况交通运输部 · 2026-10-12