Did You Know That…

 

…Global container volumes for 2025 hit another all-time record. Volumes rose to 192.9m teu for the year — up from 184.3m teu in the previous year.

 

…Maersk posts ocean loss, 1,000 job cuts as container boom unwinds. The dark clouds swirling around the container shipping industry intensified today with Maersk following Japan’s Ocean Network Express, in announcing its ocean division had slipped into the red for the final quarter of 2025. The Danish shipping giant also revealed today it will lay off 1,000 staff this year as cost discipline rises up the corporate agenda of most global liners faced with a deteriorating freight rate environment. 

…Maersk lays out scenarios for duration and severity of slump.

·Maersk is exclusively sailing through Bab el Mandeb with military escorts; its full return will only come after it feels comfortable without escorts

·Global capacity growth is expected to be 4%-8% this year, topping demand growth of 2%-4%, creating negative pressure on rates.

The unknown is how deep and long it will last,’ says Maersk’s Patrick Jany of the rate downturn. ‘Our view is that you will not have three years of pain. You will have one or two years of pain, then capacity will be taken out’.

…The electronic bill of lading: are we at the tipping point? APAC editor Cichen Shen asks whether the much-heralded electronic bill of lading is finally gaining momentum, and asks what are the big barriers to its adoption. THE electronic bill of lading has been one of the most talked-about innovations in container shipping for years now. Advocates say it can slash costs, cut fraud and ultimately unlock an entirely new world of digital trade finance. Sceptics say we've been hearing that promise for a decade and paper still dominates.The latest DCSA figures put global EBL adoption at around 11%. That's growing, but it's a long way from the 100% target that carriers have set themselves for 2030.

…MSC Spain expands transatlantic route. The shipping company MSC Spain has introduced a new transatlantic route via Bilbao to provide Spanish exporters with improved trade opportunities.

…India-EU trade deal to favour some shipping sectors more than others

·Container and bulk carriers to see most benefits with tariffs impacting goods typically shipped on these vessels

·Car carriers could see gains in this trade lane due to steep tariff cuts on European cars. But this could take time

·Indian clean petroleum product exports could also rise, subject to new sanctions compliance.

The trade deal between the EU and India will not only foster stronger trade flows but also build resilience, as they two economic giants look to diversify away from the US.

 

…Sub-Saharan Africa is rapidly increasing its container trade capacity to meet growing demand, with all related services now accounting for 8.1% of the global container fleet, or 2.68 Million TEU. Driven by infrastructure improvements, such as deeper, lengthened berths in Mozambique and West Africa, capacity on the Europe-West Africa route rose nearly 10% to 338,760 TEU. 

 

…In a huhe shift to its operations Tesla said it would scrap production of its Model S and Model X vehicles and make more robots, as it reported its first-ever drop in annual revenue.

 

…Five new members in the EAA Network this week. We are very pleased to welcome no less than 5 new members on board of the EAA this week: HITEK Logistic and Qualitair & Sea, both in Morocco, SEATRAM Logistics Group in Australia, SMART Logistics & Shipping from Tunisia and SRVC Freight Services in Cambodia. All our new friends will be represented at the annual conference in Istanbul next month.

…As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we extend our warmest wishes to everyone across our group of companies celebrating the Chinese New Year. May this new year bring strength, energy, and unstoppable momentum to all our teams. Like the horse—symbolizing speed, endurance, and success—may we gallop confidently toward new achievements, greater collaboration, and continued growth.

…Norway is the world champion in pizza consumption, with an average of around 11.5 kg per person per year. In Italy, the birthplace of pizza, consumption is significantly lower at about 7.5 kg per capita

 

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.