📌Weekly Logistics Highlights (March 21–27, 2026)

This week, global logistics faced unprecedented challenges as approximately 1,900 vessels remained stranded around the Strait of Hormuz amid continued military conflict . In a major development, COSCO Shipping resumed bookings to Gulf countries via multimodal transport, signaling a cautious reopening of regional trade lanes . Air cargo disruptions deepened as Middle East airspace restrictions persisted, while China accelerated green shipping infrastructure and sea-rail intermodal innovations. U.S. ports saw continued volume declines amid tariff uncertainty, and South Korea advanced automation initiatives at Busan port.

China

Hong Kong, China

🔹 HK Green Shipping Fund Disburses Second Batch of Subsidies (Mar 25)
Hong Kong's Marine Department approved the second batch of 15 applications under the HK$16 billion Green Shipping Fund, disbursing approximately HK$950 million for additional methanol vessel retrofitting and onshore power supply projects. The cumulative total now exceeds HK$1.75 billion across 27 approved projects. Officials confirmed the fund has supported retrofitting for 12 vessels and shore power installation at 15 berths, accelerating the port's 2030 decarbonization target.

🔹 HKIA Cargo Volumes Hold Steady at 455,000 Tons (Mar 26)
Hong Kong International Airport maintained cargo handling volumes at 455,000 tons this week, with transshipment demand from Southeast Asia to North America remaining robust. Pharmaceutical shipments utilizing cool chain facilities increased by 25% month-on-month. The airport continued to serve as a critical alternative hub amid ongoing Middle East airspace restrictions that have disrupted traditional Gulf air corridors .

Shenzhen, China

🔹 Yantian Port Completes 50th Methanol Bunkering Since March (Mar 24)
Shenzhen Yantian Port completed its 50th green methanol bunkering operation since March 1, supplying a cumulative 8,500 tons of methanol to Asia-Europe and Middle East services. The port's 12% berthing discount for eco-friendly vessels has attracted 15 methanol-powered vessels this month alone. Sinopec's domestically built dual-fuel methanol bunkering vessel "Da Qing 268" has been instrumental in scaling operations, with each refueling reducing carbon emissions by over 85% compared to traditional fuels .

🔹 Shenzhen Cross-Border E-Commerce Exports to Middle East Surge 45% in Q1 (Mar 23)
Shenzhen's cross-border e-commerce exports to Middle Eastern markets surged 45% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, driven by consumer electronics and home appliance demand. Logistics providers reported that 60% of sellers have now adopted "overseas warehouse" strategies in Dubai and Riyadh to circumvent sea route disruptions, with warehousing capacity bookings up 50% from Q4 2025.

Guangzhou, China

🔹 Nansha Port Handles Record 18,000 NEVs for Middle East Export in March (Mar 26)
Guangzhou Nansha Port processed 18,000 new energy vehicles for Middle East export in March, a 45% increase month-on-month. The port's three weekly Ro-Ro services to Jeddah and Dubai operated at full capacity, with automated loading systems reducing vessel turnaround time to under nine hours. The Chongqing-Guangzhou sea-rail intermodal corridor has been instrumental, transporting NEVs from inland manufacturing hubs to Nansha within 48 hours under the "mutual recognition of maritime supervision" pilot program .

🔹 Guangzhou Airport Launches Fourth Weekly Middle East Cargo Flight (Mar 27)
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport added a fourth weekly cargo flight to Dubai, responding to sustained demand as sea route disruptions continued. The expanded service provides an additional 120 tons of weekly capacity for electronics and pharmaceuticals, with spot air freight rates holding at $5.50–6.50/kg. Transit times averaged 10 hours, maintaining air freight's critical role amid ongoing regional tensions .

Shanghai, China

🔹 COSCO Resumes Middle East Bookings via Multimodal Transport (Mar 25)
COSCO Shipping announced the resumption of new bookings for general cargo to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, and Oman via multimodal transport, marking a significant shift in regional trade operations. Bookings are being routed through Khorfakkan or Fujairah Port via bonded land bridge, connecting to Abu Dhabi CSP and feeder networks for transshipment . The company had suspended services on March 4 amid the regional conflict, and the resumption reflects cautious normalization of Gulf trade lanes.

🔹 Yangshan Port Completes Full 5G Remote Crane Deployment Across All Berths (Mar 24)
Shanghai's Yangshan Deep Water Port completed the deployment of 5G-enabled remote crane operations across all 42 berths, achieving full automation three months ahead of schedule. The system now allows a single operator to control up to eight cranes simultaneously, improving peak efficiency by 35% and reducing manual intervention by 50%. The milestone positions Yangshan as one of the world's most automated deep-water ports.

Tianjin, China

🔹 Tianjin Port Green Corridor Covers 45% of Traffic, Emissions Drop 6,500 Tons (Mar 25)
Tianjin Port's green shipping corridor now covers 45% of total port traffic, with 75 LNG- and methanol-powered vessels using the facility this month. The port completed 55 shore power connections in March, bringing the total to 185. Monthly carbon emissions reduced by an estimated 6,500 tons in March, supporting Northern China's sustainable port development goals.

🔹 Binhai Airport Middle East Cargo Volume Up 40% in March (Mar 26)
Tianjin Binhai International Airport reported a 40% increase in cargo volume to the Middle East during March, driven by five weekly flights to Jeddah. Auto parts and electronics comprised 70% of shipments, with transit times under 11 hours. The service has become a critical alternative for manufacturers seeking to bypass sea route disruptions affecting the Gulf region.

Qingdao, China

🔹 Qingdao Port Green Fuel Bunkering Reaches 20 Weekly Operations (Mar 27)
Qingdao Port completed 20 green methanol and LNG bunkering operations this week, supplying over 2,500 tons of alternative fuels in March. The port offered berthing discounts totaling RMB 5.2 million to eco-friendly vessels this month. Bunkering volume has doubled since January, positioning Qingdao as Northern China's largest green fuel supply hub ahead of schedule.

🔹 Qingdao–Seoul Semiconductor Lane Processes 3,500 TEUs in March (Mar 25)
Qingdao Port's dedicated "Semiconductor Priority" lane processed 3,500 TEUs of chip shipments in March, a 25% increase month-on-month. The dedicated channel reduced loading and customs clearance to 90 minutes, with temperature-controlled zones protecting sensitive components. South Korean tech manufacturers have increased orders ahead of anticipated summer demand.

Vietnam

🔹 Haiphong Port March Throughput Up 28%, Sets Quarterly Record (Mar 26)
Haiphong Port handled 420,000 TEUs in March, up 28% month-on-month and setting a new quarterly record of 1.15 million TEUs for Q1 2026. Textile and electronics exports to the U.S. and EU rose 24%, supported by 24/7 port operations and streamlined customs procedures. Average container dwell time held at 2.3 days, down 62% from pre-crisis levels.

🔹 Vietnam–China Lang Son Rail Link Modernization Begins (Mar 24)
Construction began on the modernization of the Lang Son rail link with China, part of Vietnam's $2 billion logistics infrastructure plan. The project includes gauge standardization, automated gantry crane installation, and capacity expansion to 1,500 TEUs daily. Completion is scheduled for Q2 2027, aiming to reduce cross-border transit time by 40%.

South Korea

Busan, South Korea

🔹 Busan Port Transshipment Volume Hits 680,000 TEUs, Another Weekly Record (Mar 27)
Busan Port's weekly transshipment volume reached 680,000 TEUs, up 5% from the previous week and setting a new record for the fourth consecutive week. The port added 12 cranes and extended operating hours to handle the surge, with on-time performance holding at 96%. The sustained growth reflects continued diversion of cargo through Northeast Asian hubs amid Middle East disruptions.

🔹 ONE Partners with Dongwon Group to Strengthen Busan Terminal Operations (Mar 24)
Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced a long-term strategic partnership with South Korea's Dongwon Group through the acquisition of shares in Dongwon Global Terminal Busan (DGT). DGT is Korea's first fully automated container terminal, with an annual handling capacity exceeding 4.5 million TEUs across five large berths . ONE stated the partnership will optimize cargo flow and enhance transshipment efficiency at Busan, strengthening the port's role as a Northeast Asian logistics hub.

Incheon, South Korea

🔹 Incheon Airport Maintains 45% Middle East Cargo Increase Despite Airspace Restrictions (Mar 26)
Incheon International Airport sustained its 45% weekly increase in air cargo volume to the Middle East, though operations faced challenges from regional airspace restrictions. The airport's dedicated cool chain facilities processed 40% more pharmaceutical shipments than February. Transit times extended slightly to 11–13 hours due to rerouting around closed airspace, but priority cargo continued to move efficiently .

🔹 Incheon Port Smart Platform Processes 10,000 TEUs in First Two Months (Mar 25)
Incheon Port's smart logistics platform processed over 10,000 TEUs since its February launch, serving 450 logistics companies. The platform reduced documentation processing time by 60% and improved supply chain visibility for 98% of users. Integration with Busan's digital system is scheduled for Q4 2026, moving toward a unified Northeast Asian digital logistics network.

United States

🔹 U.S. Supreme Court IEEPA Tariff Ruling Prompts Refund Claims; LA Volumes Down 12.9% in Jan–Feb (Mar 24)
Importers continued filing claims for approximately $130 billion in duties collected under IEEPA following the Supreme Court decision striking down most such tariffs. The Port of Los Angeles reported January–February total container throughput declined 11.9% to 812,000 TEUs, with loaded imports down 12.9% to 421,594 TEUs . Port Executive Director Gene Seroka noted that China's share of cargo at the port has dropped from about 60% in 2018 to approximately 40% today, with Southeast Asian countries filling the void.

🔹 LA Port Maintains 3-Day Dwell Time; Advance Purchase Orders 'Looking Stable' (Mar 25)
Despite volume declines, the Port of Los Angeles maintained container dwell time below three days for trucks, with wait times averaging under one hour—the best performance in five years. Seroka noted that advance purchase orders to Asian factories are "looking stable" for the coming months, with no widespread order cancellations observed . The port processed 38,500 containers via rail this week, with on-time rail performance holding steady.

🔹 NRF Maintains First-Half Import Forecast at 12% Decline (Mar 26)
The National Retail Federation maintained its first-half 2026 import forecast at a 12% decline year-over-year, citing sustained tariff uncertainty and Middle East disruption impacts. March imports are estimated at 1.86 million TEU, down 13% from 2025 levels. NRF noted that while the IEEPA ruling may lead to refunds, a new 10% global tariff remains in effect, and supply chain disruptions continue to pressure import volumes.

Bangladesh

🔹 Chittagong Port Maintains 130% Capacity Utilization, Dwell Time at 3.5 Days (Mar 26)
Chittagong Port sustained operations at 130% capacity through March, with 38 additional cranes and extended hours clearing textile machinery and raw materials ahead of the peak garment production season. Container dwell time improved to 3.5 days, down from 12 days in February and below the 4-day target. The port handled 380,000 TEUs in March, a 22% increase month-on-month.

🔹 Dhaka–Chittagong Rail Container Service Expands to 18 Daily Trains (Mar 25)
Bangladesh Railway expanded its daily container train service between Dhaka ICD and Chittagong Port to 18 trains per day, each carrying 60 TEUs. Transit time remained at six hours, 50% faster than road transport. The service has reduced highway congestion by an estimated 25% and cut logistics costs by 22% for garment exporters. Railway officials reported 95% on-time performance for the service in March.

Myanmar

🔹 Yangon Port Imports from China Up 40% in March (Mar 26)
Yangon Port reported a 40% increase in imports from China during March, driven by consumer goods, electronics, and construction materials. The port's simplified "four-document" verification and bilingual pre-declaration portal maintained average clearance times of 16 hours, down from 20 hours in February. Cross-border trade volumes reached 35,000 TEUs in March, the highest monthly total since the post-holiday recovery began.

🔹 Myanmar Railways Mandalay–Yangon Night Freight Expands to 14 Daily Trips (Mar 24)
Myanmar Railways expanded night freight services on the Mandalay–Yangon route to 14 daily trips, utilizing 10 refurbished locomotives and expanded siding capacity. Transit time remained at 10 hours, 25% faster than road transport. The service transported 28,000 tons of rice, pulses, and construction materials this week, easing daytime highway congestion and supporting agricultural supply chains ahead of the harvest season.

Middle East

Red Sea & Strait of Hormuz (Mar 21–27)

🔹 Approximately 1,900 Vessels Remain Stranded Around Strait of Hormuz
Commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained at a near-standstill, with approximately 1,900 vessels stranded in the vicinity as of March 20–22, according to real-time ship tracker MarineTraffic . Among the stranded vessels are 324 bulk carriers, 315 oil/chemical product carriers, 267 petroleum product carriers, 211 crude oil tankers, 174 container ships, and 98 LPG carriers. Around 190 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products are aboard tankers stranded in the region, according to analytics firm Vortexa .

🔹 Iran Declares New Transit Rules; US/Israel-Affiliated Vessels Barred
Iran's armed forces spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari announced that Tehran has changed the rules of the strait and that the situation will not return to pre-war conditions. No entities linked to the US and Israel have the right to pass through the waterway . Vessels from countries other than the US and Israel may transit so long as they do not participate in or support the aggression against Iran and fully comply with security regulations.

🔹 COSCO Resumes Gulf Bookings via Multimodal Transport
In a significant development, COSCO Shipping resumed new bookings for general cargo to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, and Oman via multimodal transport. Bookings are being routed through Khorfakkan or Fujairah Port via bonded land bridge, connecting to Abu Dhabi CSP and feeder networks for transshipment . The company stated that arrangements remain subject to change due to the volatile regional situation.

🔹 Freight Rates Surge as Tanker Indices Rise 49–78%
The Baltic Dirty Tanker Index rose 49% and the Baltic Clean Tanker Index rose 78% as of March 20, reflecting severe disruption to oil and product tanker markets . Container freight rates to the Gulf region remained 45–55% above pre-crisis levels, with war-risk surcharges holding at $1,500–2,000/20GP and $3,000–4,000/40HC. Hapag-Lloyd reported six of its vessels remained unable to operate in the Persian Gulf amid ongoing tensions .

🔹 Transshipment Hubs Handle Record Volumes; Feeder Networks at Capacity
Jeddah Islamic Port, Khor Fakkan, and Salalah collectively handled over 450,000 TEUs of diverted Gulf-bound cargo in March, up 50% from early March levels. Feeder services connecting these hubs to Gulf ports operated at full capacity with 2–4 day transit times. Dubai's Jebel Ali Port maintained selective operations focused on essential and transshipment cargo, handling approximately 55% of pre-crisis volumes.

🔹 Air Cargo to Gulf Faces Capacity Constraints Amid Airspace Closures
Air cargo operations to the Gulf region faced significant challenges as regional airspace restrictions persisted. Most Middle East airspace remained closed over missile-risk concerns, forcing carriers to reroute flights through safe corridors . Emirates and Etihad operated limited services through safe air corridors, with over 100 flights departing Dubai with passengers and cargo . Spot air freight rates for Gulf-bound cargo rose to $6–7/kg for general cargo, with priority electronics and pharmaceuticals commanding $10–12/kg. Transit times extended to 12–15 hours due to rerouting, though air freight remained the only viable option for time-sensitive goods.

🔹 Global Shipping Networks Face Structural Realignment
C.H. Robinson analysts noted that Middle East military activity has severely disrupted global transport networks, with carriers suspending Suez Canal transits and the Strait of Hormuz closure effectively cutting Red Sea corridor access from both ends . Vessel diversions around the Cape of Good Hope added weeks to transit times, with regional transshipment hubs experiencing congestion and operational backlogs. The disruptions have reduced effective capacity across adjacent trade lanes and increased transportation volatility .

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