Did You Know That…

…Muted boxship chartering activity persists as Suez decisions cloud near-term outlook

• ·Uncertainty over vessel routeing via the Red Sea and Suez Canal continues to limit near-term visibility in the containership charter market
• ·Recent weeks have seen minimal transactional volume, largely due to a lack of open tonnage rather than any deterioration in sentiment
• ·While some containership segments saw marginal rate declines, the broader market remains stable

The return to the Suez Canal route remains the key variable, with a broader return likely to release capacity and weigh on charter rates.

 

…Continuing uncertainty in international markets have not been eased by the arrival of the US carrier group into the Middle East, forcing container operators to shelve rate increases. The arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its escorts into the troubled region was, seemingly, enough for French operator CMA CGM to reverse its decision to return its Asia-Europe FAL1, FAL3 and MEX services to the Suez Canal, with these services now sailing around the Cape of Good Hope again.

…Beijing’s balancing act: energy security, trade and shipping carbon pricing

• ·A regional maritime carbon tax from Beijing appears a tough decision
• ·Industry insiders describe China’s green fuel sector as entering a ‘winter period’
• ·Shipowners seek diversification to reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains

Will China follow the EU’s lead and introduce its own maritime carbon tax regime? The question is a lot more complex than it may seem.

 

…Logistics route from Shanghai to Peru. COSCO SHIPPING Lines has launched a logistics route from Shanghai to Peru aimed at making the import of e-commerce products more efficient and reducing the cost of living for the population.

Until now, goods from China to Peru were primarily transported by air freight, which, according to COSCO SHIPPING, was associated with high logistics costs. With the new route utilizing the direct shipping service „Shanghai-Chancay,“ sea transport is now integrated into the import process. After the goods arrive at the port of Chancay, the Peruvian postal service takes over customs clearance and last-mile delivery. This is intended to ensure a more efficient handling of the entire import process. Advantages of the New Logistics Route. The introduction of the sea freight model offers several advantages. On one hand, it allows for lower consumer prices, as transportation costs are reduced, according to the company. On the other hand, consumers benefit from a more stable supply of goods and a greater selection of products.

…Gianluigi Aponte stands behind Sinokor spree now surpassing 40 VLCCs

• ·The world’s largest containership owner is buying oil tankers
• ·Exact nature of deal between MSC’s ruling family and Korean owner remains shrouded in secrecy, but Aponte’s money is backing deals
• ·Sources say MSC is negotiating up to eight VLCCs at Hengli yard
• ·Some Sinokor acquisitions still to emerge, while deal for Delta Tankers duo may be off

Box shipping mogul Gianluigi Aponte, the man behind the largest container line in the world, is said to have earmarked up to $5bn for a massive tanker play and is now being linked to potential VLCC newbuild orders in China.

…Africa’s two biggest economies may be turning the corner

As Nigeria and South Africa revive, the continent’s growth may outpace Asia’s in 2026. Nigeria and South Africa are the two largest economies in sub-Saharan Africa, generating almost one-third of the region’s GDP. Tragically, in the past decade both have gone backwards. On average, individual South Africans and Nigerians are poorer today than they were in 2015. Since each country ought to be the powerhouse of its part of Africa, their dismal performance has slowed progress across the continent.

…US to cut tariffs on India to 18%, India agrees to end Russian oil purchases.  U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday announced a trade deal with India that slashes U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50% in exchange for India halting Russian oil purchases and lowering trade barriers.

…Europe risks a rare-earths crunch between China and America. The old continent must play to its strengths as a large market with stable rules.  EUROPE HAS sleepwalked into all kinds of dependencies over the years, from American digital services to Russian energy. Its reliance on Chinese rare earths, crucial in everything from electric cars and wind turbines to fighter jets, is perhaps the hardest to shake off. When China started to restrict exports last year, European manufacturers panicked. A global ores race kicked off, pitting the European Union’s rule-bound approach against America’s more muscular one. On February 4th America will welcome countries at a critical-minerals summit in Washington. What will Europe bring to the table? China’s leverage rests on its near-monopoly of rare-earth supply chains. It accounts for 70% of the ores dug up, over 90% of the refined material and nine-tenths of the magnets made from them. It has consolidated the industry into a handful of national champions and developed a tracing system to follow every tonne of rare earths.

…CMA CGM agrees $2.4bn joint venture with investment firm. Stonepeak will take a 25% stake in 10 of the French company’s terminals around the globe. The newly formed company, United Ports, will acquire CMA CGM’s terminals in Santos, New York and Algeciras, among others.

…Singapore’s trade flows expose the new architecture of global supply chains

·Singapore has emerged as a barometer of global trade disruption, as tariffs and Red Sea detours push record container volumes through the hub

·Carrier alliances are consolidating traffic through the city-sate, strengthening its role as the region’s primary transhipment port

·Tariff-driven rerouting is reshaping Asian supply chains, with China’s cargo increasingly channelled through Singapore toward Vietnam and India

·Figures suggest too that US shippers are also redirecting cargo through Singapore to limit tariff exposure, lifting both US origin calls and onward flows into Asia

Singapore has become the clearest lens through which to read the upheaval reshaping global trade, as tariff battles, Red Sea diversions and shifting manufacturing hubs redraw long-established shipping routes. Its surging volumes and rapidly evolving vessel flows reveal how supply chains are being rebuilt across Asia in real time.

 

…Cathay Cargo has transported around 60 elite horses from Europe to Hong Kong for the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show. The event will take place from January 30 to February 1, 2026, at AsiaWorld-Expo. Cathay Cargo serves as the founding partner of the event and has built on last year’s experiences to orchestrate a complex logistics process. The horses were transported on a 12-hour flight from Liège, Belgium, a central location with a well-equipped cargo airport and stable facilities, to Hong Kong International Airport. A chartered Boeing 747 freighter was used, whose spacious main deck and temperature-controlled environment provide optimal conditions for a safe and comfortable long-haul journey. This ensures that the horses arrive calm and ready to compete.

…China has launched a huge free-trade experiment. Will reforms on a big southern island kick-start changes elsewhere? Chinese officials gush about their decision to turn the tropical island of Hainan into the world’s largest free-trade port (FTP). They describe the move, which took effect in December, as a “substantial leap” in the country’s opening to foreigners seeking to tap China’s vast markets. Amid global trade tensions, they call it evidence that China is bucking an American-led trend towards greater protectionism. Hainan has a long history of such boosterism, and of failing to impress beyond its sandy beaches and five-star resorts. Will this time be different?

…The UK and South Korea have finalised a revised Free Trade Agreement (FTA), that aims to expand bilateral trade, support UK exports and strengthen cooperation across services, manufacturing and digital trade.

…China’s economy expanded by 5% in 2025, officially alligning with the government’s target for GDP. Domestic demand remained weak, but a surge in exports helped boost growth.

…As traditional wine markets continue to be subdued, premium wine producers are reporting double-digit growth across Latin America in nations such as Mexico, South America, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

…Snacking with your non-dominant hand can cut intake by around 30% – the extra effort slows you down and makes you eat more mindfully.

Wishing you all a very good rest of the week !

…This DYKT news bulletin will be published on the website as well, go to www.eaanetwork.com.