Did You Know That…

…SCFI spikes as transpacific spot rates post record weekly gains.

• SCFI rate spot assessment to US west coast surged 58% week on week; assessment to US east coast jumped 46%
• Spot rates are still down year on year, but gap is narrowing for transpacific trades
• Higher bookings spurred by tariff reprieve, together with normal seasonal upswing, are pushing up spot rates.

US importers are bringing in more cargo from China, despite extreme uncertainty over tariff levels, pushing transpacific spot rates to much healthier levels

…Rates surge on US-China truce but capacity clouds outlook.

• US-China tariff truce and strong demand have driven container shipping rates sharply higher, with expectations for further gains
• Rising capacity and post-truce uncertainty may limit further mark-ups by carriers
• Red Sea tensions persist and will keep most carriers on longer African routes.

After last week’s surge in freight indices, market optimism has grown. Analysts predict the strong momentum could continue into the summer peak season, but the rapid increase in transpacific capacity may suppress further rate hikes.
…Transatlantic box volumes boom but return of bigger ships weighs on freight rates.

• Front-loading to avoid tariff rises has boosted box volumes on the transatlantic trade
• Introduction of larger ships by Gemini Alliance and MSC has reduced load factors and subsequently freight rates
• ACL reports that strong UK exports have offset downturns in EU volumes.

Eastbound transatlantic container volumes have been especially strong since the beginning of 2025, but there are expectations of a downturn in the second half.

…CMA CGM and Nike launch electric river barge in Vietnam. CMA CGM has unveiled Southeast Asia’s first 100% electric container barge in Vietnam, developed with Gemadept via a joint venture named Green River Transportation.

…Northern Europe port congestion to last until at least August.

• With peak season approaching concerns grow that congestion will persist, prompting carriers to take pre-emptive measures and adjust service rotations to avoid congestion hotspots
• Lloyd’s List Intelligence’s Seasearcher platform shows significant queues of vessels anchored outside ports awaiting berthing clearance
• Strong demand, alliance restructuring and other factors including widespread industrial action has led to consistent delays at North Europe’s premier box hubs.

Northern Europe’s container ports are still experiencing significant congestion, with carriers adjusting services to avoid the worst-affected locations. Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg continue to experience delays, leading shipping lines including Maersk, CMA CGM and MSC to either revise schedules, extend transit times and reroute services. But shippers can expect delays until the end of the peak season at the very earliest.

…Maasvlakte completes secure chain rollout. All deepsea terminals at Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte now verify the executing transport company at the gate by matching the EAN code on the driver’s ‘CargoCard’ with that registered in the ‘Portbase’ system.

…How bitter Trump-Musk feud escalated - and what happens next. What happens when the richest person and the most powerful politician have a knock-down, drag-out fight?
The world is finding out – and it's not a pretty picture. Donald Trump and Elon Musk have two of the biggest megaphones, and they have now turned them on each other, as a disagreement has ballooned into a war of words.

Trump has threatened Musk's voluminous business dealings with the federal government, which form the lifeblood of his SpaceX programme. "The easiest way to save money in our budget, billions and billions of dollars, is to terminate Elon's governmental subsidies and contracts," Trump posted menacingly on his own social media website.

If Trump turns the machinery of government against Musk, the tech billionaire will feel pain. Tesla's stock price plunged by 14% on Thursday.

It's not a one-way street, however. After that volley, Musk called for Trump's impeachment and dared him to cut funding for his companies.

Musk also said he was accelerating the decommissioning of his Dragon spacecraft, which the US relies on to carry American astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station.

…BYD, China’s leading maker of electric cars, sold more fully electric vehicles in Europe for the first time.

…We are pleased to welcome our second member in the United Kingdom: Fortitude Global Logistics. More information you can find on the website: www.fortitude-gl.com.

…With over 2,700 exhibitors from 73 countries and more than 77,000 visitors, Transport Logistic 2025 in Munich broke records and confirmed its status as the world’s leading logistics trade fair, as it has reported. Key topics included AI, sustainability and digitalisation, while Air Cargo Europe expanded to two halls. Visitors from across the globe, including several EAA members, discussed the sector’s transformation and future challenges.

…Britain’s King Charles visited Canada, where he is also head of state, on a trip that was seen as providing moral support to Canadians amid Mr Trump’s trade war and musings about taking over the country.

…The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Co-operation Council, which represents Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Persian Gulf countries (but not Iran) held a joint summit in Kuala Lumpur. The meeting was called to develop economic ties between the regions.

…Germany overtook Japan to become the world’s biggest holder of foreign assets, a position it last held in 1991.

… Dreams get weirder the longer you’ve been sleeping.

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

Have a good weekend ahead!