What exporters track: ocean, air, and rail rates and lane shifts, carrier moves, customs and trade-rule updates — each post pairs data with dates you can use for booking and business decisions.
On Nov 9–10, the U.S. and China extended their trade and maritime suspension by two months to Jan 9–10, 2027: USTR paused Section 301 vessel port fees and extended 178 exclusions, while Beijing kept its 24% tariff and special port fee on hold. Five shipper actions inside.
Read articleNov 9 update: Following the Oct 30 strike across 113 ports in 22 countries and the Nov 2–7 primary recovery week, mainline gateways are normalizing while Gioia Tauro and Piraeus feeders clear tail-end rollovers. Updated Nov 6 SCFI/WCI rates inside.
Read articleNov 9 update: MSA Notice 171/26 is now past halfway (active 24/7 through Nov 30) alongside final Christmas ocean cut-offs (~Nov 15 USEC, Nov 20–25 Europe/USWC). Updated with Nov 6 SCFI/WCI rates, port impact tiers, and six shipper steps.
Read articleNov 9 update: USEC Christmas ocean cut-offs enter the final week (~Nov 15) with Europe & USWC (~Nov 20–25) two weeks out. Updated with Nov 6 SCFI snapping its 4-week rally (USEC under $10k) and Nov 5 WCI rates.
Read articleDrewry's WCI held at $4,465/FEU on Sep 3 as trades diverged: Shanghai-NY +3% to $9,587 and Shanghai-LA +5% to new highs, while Genoa fell 10% and Rotterdam 5% on the Suez return. Transpacific blanks double to six ahead of Golden Week; booking advice inside.
Read articleCarriers are gradually resuming Suez transits, pulling capacity back from the Cape: Shanghai-Genoa fell 10%, Asia-Europe blanks cut to one. But Red Sea attacks continue and war risk claims top $2 billion — gradual and reversible. Booking implications inside.
Read articleReviewed October 7, 2026: W K Webster confirms General Average has been declared for CMA CGM PETRA and reports her move to Port Klang. Cargo checks, security, insurance notification and delivery planning after the August 23 fire.
Read articleAug 28 update: the transpacific shifts into high-level consolidation — WCI at $4,473/FEU on Aug 27 (first dip after three weekly gains) while the SCFI kept climbing to 3,509.54 on Aug 28; Panama Canal transits cut to ~32/day from Sep 3. September booking advice inside.
Read articleAug 28 update: Europe's second price push has failed and the lane has rolled into a downcycle — SCFI Europe at $2,842/TEU (-3.5%) on Aug 21, Aug 15 FAKs already $800-1,400 below mid-July, early-September quotes cut further. The pre-Golden Week pulse is the only supportive window left.
Read articleFormulas and three worked examples for trading companies (exemption-refund) and manufacturers (exemption-credit-refund), with refund-rate lookup, a six-document checklist, the 30 April filing deadline and five common traps.
Read articleAug 1 GRIs of $2,000-3,000/FEU push USEC quotes past $10,000 and USWC toward $9,000. SCFI US lanes jump 12.5%; blank sailings, the Europe contrast, and August booking advice.
Read articleNine-stage export FCL booking: rates and S/O, stuffing and VGM, gate-in and customs, China pre-manifest, plus US AMS, EU ENS, and Japan AFR cut-offs—with roll-risk playbook.
Read articleSCFI fell 4.27% to 3184.83 on July 10, ending a 10-week rally. USWC ocean freight leads lower; FAK spot, space, PSS/GRI, blank sailings, and secondary trades covered for exporter bookings.
Read articleThe full export customs workflow: required documents, HS code classification, Single Window filing, cut-off timing, inspection response, top 10 rejection causes and VAT refund tips — from 26 years of brokerage practice.
Read articleNov 13 update: 37 vessels attacked in Oct (11 VLCCs damaged), 12+ incidents in early Nov, transits stuck at 20–30% of baseline. US rejects Iran's 7 conditions; SCFI holds 3,630–3,690 as carriers lean on Fujairah, Khor Fakkan & land-bridges.
Read articlePersian Gulf rates hit a post-2009 high; Asia-Europe diversions add 10–14 days. A practical breakdown of April rate structures, surcharges, and rebooking/rerouting steps.
Read articleThe policy took effect on April 1, 2026. This article focuses on the most common first-week customs, classification, pricing, and filing issues for chemicals, batteries, and other affected products.
Read articleAs of April 7, 2026, the Strait of Hormuz has only limited transit. Major carriers still rely on booking controls, alternative ports, landbridges, and surcharges to manage Middle East shipping risk.
Read articleThe policy is already in force: 249 products are now at 0% rebate and 22 battery items are at 6%. Includes official sources, filing rules, and practical exporter guidance.
Read articleSix new rail-sea intermodal corridors now operational across China, covering grain, NEVs, auto parts, and cross-border e-commerce. Key takeaways for freight forwarders and shippers.
Read articleChina remains the world's largest goods trading nation. Belt and Road trade exceeds 51%, high-tech exports surge 13.2%. Key insights for freight forwarders and shippers.
Read articleAlliances control most east-west capacity, transpacific concentration is near 85%, and independents are pushed to niches. We map the alliance landscape and 2026 outlook.
Read articleFrom Dec 1 onboard, PSS applies on Asia/Oceania exports to key West Africa ports: USD 200/CTR; Cameroon reefers remain USD 1,000/CTR.
Read articleRed Sea headlines are everywhere, but overcapacity is still coming. We unpack the Suez return through rate cycles, redundancy, and supply-chain resilience for exporters.
Read articleFour additional 5,300 TEU vessels at Huangpu Wenchong strengthen owned capacity and efficiency.
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Distilled from 26 years of China-port experience: HS codes, customs documentation, Incoterms, export VAT refunds, and more — written so importers, sourcing teams, and freight buyers can apply it directly.
