The 2026 container shipping market started with a sharp downturn: SCFI fell 9.68% weekly, down over 10% across major routes. Over 125 sailings (18% of total) are canceled due to holiday-driven weak demand and overcapacity, especially on trans-Pacific lanes. Rates are expected to stay weak until March, with recovery dependent on post-holiday cargo volume.

A massive U.S. winter storm paralyzes air & road logistics, closes 70+ FBA warehouses, causing non-essential sellers’ orders to drop 75%. Meanwhile, heating, emergency & energy storage goods boom, with “power outage heater” searches up 1600%. Sellers advised to stay cautious and prepare for recovery.

Wan Hai Lines bids $87 million for a 30-year concession of Osaka Port’s C9 terminal (600m quay, 16m depth) to strengthen Japan-Taiwan routes, reduce third-party reliance, and support fleet growth. Backed by TIPC, it competes with DP World-MOL JV; results due in March.

"Evergreen Marine launches the WSA6 route for direct shipping to Mexico, Peru, and Chile. Discover how STU Supply Chain provides space guarantees and DDP customs-cleared services for the WSA6 route. Fast transit, reliable logistics."

Italy’s rail network faces disruptions from Jan to Mar 2026 due to construction, affecting Gioia Tauro, La Spezia, Genoa. Trains are diverted, capacity reduced; oversized containers have transport restrictions, impacting port shipments.

Singapore’s PIL signs LOIs for 8 LNG dual-fuel 13,000 TEU Neo-Panamax ships (Hudong-Zhonghua/HD Hyundai, 4 each), $1.5B total, delivering 2028–2029. It expands an existing 23-ship orderbook, using LNG as transition fuel to boost fleet efficiency and environmental compliance.

Chile declares a State of Catastrophe due to massive southern wildfires and severe maritime conditions, disrupting multiple ports. Lirquén Port halts operations; others face restrictions. Shippers should monitor updates, adjust logistics plans and prepare contingencies to reduce delays.

A fire broke out at Karachi International Container Terminal on January 16, triggered by lithium batteries, dry chemicals and electrical equipment in a container, spreading to 19 adjacent containers and fully destroying 20 units.

The SCFI index continued to decline for two consecutive weeks, with the weekly drop expanding to 4.45% due to the persistent oversupply in the container shipping market. Freight rates fell on most major ocean routes, with the Mediterranean route seeing the largest drop of 7.7%.

In 2025, China's total exports reached $3.77 trillion (up 5.5% YoY), outpacing GDP growth, with a trade surplus of $1.19 trillion hitting a new high. Outward processing trade and project contracting exports grew rapidly, reflecting industrial upgrading and expanding overseas engineering layout.

Trump announced a 10% tariff on goods from 8 European nations starting February 1, rising to 25% from June 1, over the Greenland purchase issue. The EU is considering retaliatory tariffs on $93 billion worth of US goods, set to take effect February 6. Shippers and forwarders should closely monitor tariff dynamics and adjust shipping plans promptly.

MSC and Hapag-Lloyd have frozen US West Coast rates at $2,100 until Feb 15, while Maersk undercuts at $1,800, marking the failure of two scheduled Jan rate hikes. Oversupply, weak demand, and aggressive pricing by ultra-large carriers have dimmed prospects for the pre-Lunar New Year mini peak season.

Singapore Port had an outstanding 2025, with 44.7 million TEU container throughput (8.6% YoY), 3.2 billion GT vessel arrival tonnage (3.5% YoY), and 56.8 million tons bunker sales (3.4% YoY). Alternative fuel sales hit 2 million tons, and ship registration jumped 27% to 137.5 million GT, ranking 4th globally.

The U.S. imposes a 540.63% combined tariff on China’s thermoformed molded fiber products (eco-tableware) starting Jan 23, 2026, with Vietnam facing 265.62% duties. This trade protectionist move threatens $350M Chinese exports, disrupts global green supply chains, and targets supply chain migration.

2026 container shipping starts with divergence: US routes surge (LA up 26%), European ports congest. Maersk cancels sailings; Red Sea resumption and new capacity pose risks. China’s exports and trade shifts support market resilience.