What’s going on in freight

The IMO has told shipowners to stay out of Hormuz, while Spain’s general strike stopped three Mediterranean box hubs for a day and carriers keep adding surcharges in Europe even as spot rates slip. Elsewhere, ports and airlines are earning more per box and per kilo rather than moving more cargo, and Panama has eased its limits ahead of a dry season that could test them.

War, chokepoints and disruption

• IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez on 11 November urged shipowners “to refrain from commercial activities in the Strait”, as the IMO counts 133 incidents and 25 seafarer deaths since 28 February. Iran claimed a new mine strike the same day, and India said four crew were hurt on the supertanker Fujairah Energy. (gCaptain, Marine Insight) Our story →
• Spain’s first general strike in 14 years stopped container work at Algeciras, Valencia and Barcelona for 24 hours on 11 November, with unions putting port participation at about 90%. Renfe cancelled 25 of 38 night freight trains, and rail strikes are still called for 17 and 23 November. (El Estrecho Digital, Al Jazeera) Our story →
• The Panama Canal has raised its Neopanamax draft limit to 50 feet, from 49, with immediate effect, and raised daily booking slots to 34. It is already auctioning slots for 3 January to 3 April 2027, a dry season that may coincide with a record El Niño. (gCaptain) Our story →
• More than 207 freighter flights were cancelled at Taipei’s Taoyuan airport after Typhoon Champi, and Expeditors expects freighter delays through Q4. Staff and dolly shortages, not aircraft, are now the bottleneck for AI-server cargo. (Air Cargo News) Our story →

Rates and markets

• CMA CGM will add a $1,600 per 40ft peak season surcharge on Asia to the Mediterranean and North Africa from 25 November, two days after Maersk’s $1,500 version starts. Freightos had Asia–Med at $4,300 per 40ft on 10 November, down 1% on the week. (CMA CGM, Freightos) Our story →
• Maersk has brought back a EUR 625 per container charge at Andernach on the Rhine, plus Dutch and Bonn low-water surcharges, all backdated to 3 November. A Nordic and Baltic emergency inland fuel surcharge of up to 23% (Estonia) starts on 11 November. (Maersk, Maersk) Our story →

Tariffs, customs and policy

• US and Mexican customs offloaded and inspected 80% of targeted in-bond shipments in a five-day joint sweep at Otay Mesa. Mexico also says it struck about 1,100 steel mills that did not exist off its approved registry as it seeks Section 232 relief. (STR Trade Report, Reuters via AOL) Our story →

Forwarders, carriers and deals

• AD Ports Group’s Q3 profit for shareholders rose 73% to Dh767m ($209m) while its UAE container volumes fell 57%. ICTSI’s nine-month profit rose 20%, but like-for-like volume grew just 0.1%. (The National, Hellenic Shipping News) Our story →
• Singapore Airlines Group’s cargo revenue rose 30.2% to S$1,394minApril–Septemberonflatcapacity,withyieldsup25.4%.JetfuelaveragedUS$171 a barrel, up 86.7%. (AsiaOne, Connected to India) Our story →

Software, AI and automation

• project44 says 210 customers use Mo, its AI supply-chain analyst, now running inside Snowflake. A separate InstaLILY survey found 1 in 6 managers at AI-using distribution firms reported supplier or customer data exposed through an AI tool. (GlobeNewswire, FreightWaves) Our story →

Coming up

• Thursday 12 November, 06:00: Valencia’s container terminals reopen early for trucks after the strike Our story →
• Tuesday 17 November: Spanish rail strike call; Panama Canal Neopanamax dry-season slot auction Our story → Our story →
• Monday 23 November: rescheduled Spanish rail strike; Maersk’s Far East–Med peak season surcharge starts Our story → Our story →
• Tuesday 24 November: Panama Canal Panamax slot auction Our story →
• Wednesday 25 November: CMA CGM’s Asia–Med/North Africa surcharge starts Our story →
• Sunday 29 November: Spain’s general election Our story →
• 3 January to 3 April 2027: Panama Canal dry-season slot period Our story →