Did You Know That…

 

…Our friend Steven Yuan from FS China shared following information related to the China to Europe trade. As April is approaching, the new PA 2.0 network structure will be fully implemented from April 2026, marking the launch of a brand-new service offering from the Far East to Europe. On April 11, the new FE4 service will commence its maiden voyage. In response, we could got THE Alliance very competitive rates for Week 15 at USD 1,900 per 40HQ(SHA FE4/NB FE3/QD FE3/SZ FE3  only), The CIF market rate for this loop is around USD 2,200.Following this, MSK has also adjusted its rates downward for the same week. Currently, MSC rates are only available through April 5, while the Ocean Alliance (OA) has announced relatively high rate increases for April. It is expected that both MSC and OA will lower their rates in the coming week.

If you require more details about the PA 2.0 service rotation you can contact Steven at steven@fschina.com.

…Middle East port update: Wednesday, April 1. Find the full report in attached document.

…MSC + PSA are doubling down on Antwerp as a primary Europe hub. The MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET)
(a joint venture between Mediterranean Shipping Company and PSA International) has been awarded additional container handling capacity in Antwerp.  MPET is the largest container terminal in Europe, with a capacity: ~9 million TEU annually and is the key hub for Asia–Europe services (especially MSC loops).

• Extra capacity allocated to MPET

• Additional +800k TEU expansion at PSA terminals

• Infrastructure ready for next-gen mega vessels

Net effect: More volume concentration, bigger loops, fewer stops → exactly how modern Asia–Europe networks are evolving.

…China is no longer just a trading nation. It is becoming the core engine of global shipping itself. A simple way to explain it: Old world: China produces goods, others move them.” New world: “China produces goods and increasingly controls how they move globally.” Control over container shipping capacity (Cosco Shipping, OOCL). Ownership of ports worldwide, through companies like China Merchants Group, COSCO Shipping Ports. China has stakes in dozens of ports globally, including Europe (e.g. Piraeus), Africa, Middle East and Asia. Shipbuilding dominance. China now builds a huge share of the world’s vessels. Major yards like China State Shipbuilding Corporation. Leading in Container ships (ULCVs).

…Cosco containerships abandon attempt to exit Middle East Gulf.

·Three China-affiliated vessels have U-turned on approach to the ‘Tehran toll booth’ in the past two days

·A fourth vessel was denied access to the route earlier this week

·IRGC has reiterated that the strait is closed to shipping that calls at ‘enemy’ ports

·US military retains options to get traffic through the strait, but the political cost could be too high.

Despite dialogue between Beijing and Tehran only this week, two Chinese-owned containerships have been turned away from the approved route through the Strait of Hormuz.

 

…Followed by: Cosco boxships transit Hormuz on second attempt as Iran widens approved nation list

·Two Cosco ULCs have passed through Iran’s Larak Island on their second attempt, days after abruptly turning back

·While the move signals a diplomatic breakthrough between Beijing and Tehran, Cosco’s tanker fleet remain trapped inside the MEG

·Meanwhile, a Chinese-owned bulker also cleared the strait after spending over a week near Larak Island.

First Chinese state-owned vessels exit Gulf since Iran seized control, though selective clearances suggest Tehran is still calling the shots.

 

…Royal Air Maroc Cargo expands cold chain infrastructure. Royal Air Maroc Cargo is modernizing its cold chain infrastructure at Casablanca Airport to meet the increasing demands of the industry for perishable goods and pharmaceutical products.

…Air freight rates rise despite capacity decline. Global air freight rates increased by 7% in the week of March 16 to 22, 2026, while tonnages decreased by 1%.

…The removal of US wines from the Canadian alcoholic beverage market has seen US wine exports to Canada nose-dive by 78% between 2024 and 2025, equating to a loss exceeding US$357 million in export value in a single year.

…Netherlands to implement truck toll. The Netherlands will introduce a truck toll for domestic and foreign trucks on July 1, 2026, which will be charged per kilometer driven.

…Grain‑linked Iran traffic resumes as Hormuz access limited to ‘friendly’ ships.

·Evidence the Islamic Republic is allowing its own trade through the Strait of Hormuz

·Increase in westbound transits after weeks-long lull

·Other bulkers that have waited in the Arabian Sea are now on the move towards the gulf

All bulker traffic through Hormuz since March 15 has involved ships with an Iranian nexus, highlighting Tehran’s tight control of the chokepoint as it resumes grain‑related movements after a two‑week halt.

 

…The Asian Development Bank announced a financial-support package for member countries to help mitigate the economic impact of the Iran war. Sri Lanka became the first country to tap the programme. The Philippines declared a national emergency; the country gets almost all of its oil from the Gulf.

…Hormuz is not the only weak spot for global trade. Many shipping routes are vulnerable, from the Strait of Malacca to the Panama Canal. “FIVE STRATEGIC keys lock up the world!” declared Sir Jacky Fisher, a Victorian admiral. He was talking about places that command critical waterways: Singapore, Cape Town, Alexandria, Gibraltar and Dover. Today you would definitely add to the list the tiny island of Hormuz and the strait that shares its name. Iran has turned the key on the narrow channel, the only sea passage out of the Gulf, locking up a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. Economies around the globe are shuddering. And Hormuz is not even the world’s most vital sea-lane by most measures. The old preoccupation with defending the flow of commerce is suddenly looking pertinent again.

…Subtle rise in non-Iranian trade through Hormuz.

·Eight of 18 Hormuz transits by vessels with no trade or ownership links to Iran have occurred since March 28, ending a four‑day stretch with none at all

·Situation could change abruptly, analysts warn

·Every traceable transit through the strait has been via the Larak detour

·Fourth Dynacom tanker re-emerges in Indian Ocean.

Last week marked the Strait of Hormuz’s busiest period since the conflict began, yet traffic remains below 10% of normal levels.

 

…Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, was able to claim that his tough economic reforms were bearing fruit when data showed the economy had expanded by 4.4% in 2025, after contracting in 2023 and 2024.

 

…Various countries, including Egypt, Pakistan and Türkiye, said they were willing to mediate between America and Iran, with Pakistan saying it was ready to host talks.

 

…Our native language takes up less space in our brains than a single digital photo on a mobile phone.

 

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.