📌 Weekly Logistics Highlights (May 23–29, 2026)

This week, global logistics markets remained under pressure from prolonged Red Sea and Hormuz disruptions, though selective Gulf corridor movements showed gradual stabilization. Africa rerouting stayed dominant across Asia–Europe services, while blank sailings and emergency surcharges tightened selected transpacific capacity. China accelerated green fuel and multimodal expansion projects, South Korea sustained record transshipment momentum, and Middle East air freight rates softened further amid rising freighter supply. US ports maintained stable throughput but faced increasing labor and fuel cost pressure.

China

Hong Kong, China

🔹 HK Green Shipping Fund Seventh Batch Opens, LNG & Methanol Retrofit Demand Accelerates (May 24)
Hong Kong Marine Department opened the seventh batch of Green Shipping Fund applications, with strong interest from regional feeder operators and international liner alliances. Proposed projects focused on dual-fuel retrofits, smart shore power deployment, and low-carbon port digitization. Participation from global carriers continued expanding as Hong Kong reinforced its role as a regional green shipping finance hub.

🔹 HKIA Pharma & Electronics Cargo Keeps Rising, Night Freighter Utilization Near Saturation (May 27)
Hong Kong International Airport maintained strong cargo momentum driven by pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and high-value electronics shipments to North America and Europe. Cold-chain utilization remained above 90%, while night freighter slot usage approached operational limits amid additional charter demand from Southeast Asia transshipment flows.

Shenzhen, China

🔹 Yantian Port Green Fuel Supply Expands Further, Weekly Methanol Bunkering Exceeds 24 Calls (May 25)
Shenzhen Yantian Port expanded green methanol bunkering coverage across Asia–Europe and Gulf rerouting services. Weekly bunkering operations surpassed 24 calls, while long-term supply agreements supported stable pricing visibility through 2030. Alternative fuel demand continued rising as carriers maintained Cape of Good Hope rerouting strategies.

🔹 Shenzhen Cross-Border E-Commerce Exports Continue Surge, GCC Warehouse Leasing Up 70% (May 28)
Cross-border logistics demand from Shenzhen remained strong, especially for NEVs, consumer electronics, and smart appliances destined for Middle East distribution hubs. Overseas warehouse leasing demand in Dubai and Riyadh climbed sharply as exporters sought buffer inventory solutions to reduce transit uncertainty linked to Red Sea disruptions.

Guangzhou, China

🔹 Nansha Port NEV Exports Stay Strong, Middle East Ro-Ro Utilization Above 92% (May 23)
Guangzhou Nansha Port sustained high NEV export volumes as Middle East Ro-Ro demand remained resilient despite regional shipping disruptions. Automated loading systems and expanded pre-clearance procedures helped maintain vessel turnaround efficiency below 7 hours.

🔹 Baiyun Airport Middle East Air Cargo Rates Ease Further Amid Capacity Expansion (May 28)
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport added additional charter freighter capacity to Gulf destinations, easing pressure on general cargo pricing. Electronics and pharmaceutical exports remained dominant, while cool-chain pricing stayed relatively firm due to sustained healthcare demand across Gulf markets.

Shanghai, China

🔹 COSCO Cape Route Capacity Remains Tight, June Space Allocation Near Full (May 24)
COSCO’s Cape rerouting network maintained high vessel utilization as bookings for June approached full allocation across multiple Asia–Middle East loops. Transit times remained extended by 10–14 days versus pre-crisis schedules, while emergency war-risk and fuel surcharges stayed in effect into June.

🔹 Shanghai Port Rail-Sea Intermodal Volume Reaches New High, Luo Jing Expansion Advances (May 27)
Shanghai Port reported continued growth in Yangtze River multimodal cargo integration as rail-linked container throughput expanded steadily. Construction at Luo Jing Terminal Phase II accelerated, with automated yard and gate systems prioritized to support future inland cargo consolidation efficiency.

Tianjin, China

🔹 Tianjin Port Green Corridor Coverage Nears 58%, LNG Vessel Calls Continue Rising (May 26)
Tianjin Port expanded LNG and methanol-powered vessel participation across northern trade corridors. Shore power deployment and low-emission berth incentives continued attracting eco-friendly liner operators as the port pushed toward its year-end carbon reduction targets.

🔹 Tianjin Binhai Airport Gulf Cargo Demand Remains Stable, Machinery Exports Lead Growth (May 24)
Tianjin Binhai International Airport maintained stable freighter utilization to Jeddah and Gulf destinations, supported by strong exports of machinery, industrial equipment, and automotive parts. Dedicated overnight customs processing helped maintain average cargo transit efficiency below 12 hours.

Qingdao, China

🔹 Qingdao Port Alternative Fuel Throughput Maintains Double-Digit Growth (May 25)
Qingdao Port continued scaling LNG and methanol bunkering operations, supported by expanded subsidy programs for green-fuel vessel operators. Northern China carriers increasingly selected Qingdao as a preferred eco-fuel replenishment hub for Europe-bound services.

🔹 Qingdao–Japan Cold Chain Cargo Rises, Seafood Exports Sustain Momentum (May 27)
Qingdao’s cargo air services to Japan remained stable with strong seafood and electronics demand supporting load factors. Expanded cold-chain handling capacity improved export processing efficiency for temperature-sensitive shipments.

Vietnam

🔹 Haiphong Port Throughput Continues Growth, US-Bound Electronics Exports Remain Strong (May 26)
Haiphong Port sustained elevated throughput supported by electronics, textiles, and furniture exports to the United States and Europe. Continuous customs optimization and 24-hour terminal operations helped maintain low container dwell times despite rising vessel calls.

🔹 Vietnam Inland Logistics Projects Accelerate, Cai Mep ICD Construction Preparations Advance (May 28)
Vietnam continued accelerating national logistics infrastructure expansion, with inland depot and multimodal rail-linked projects entering early-stage construction preparation. Regional investors reaffirmed long-term commitments to Vietnam’s export-oriented logistics development strategy.

South Korea

Busan, South Korea

🔹 Busan Port Weekly Transshipment Stays Above 720,000 TEUs, Semiconductor Cargo Keeps Rising (May 24)
Busan Port maintained record transshipment momentum as semiconductor and electronics exports continued fueling Northeast Asia relay demand. Expanded crane deployment and extended gate operations helped stabilize yard congestion levels.

🔹 Busan Smart Logistics AI Integration Advances, Predictive Scheduling Accuracy Improves (May 27)
Busan Port Authority reported progress in AI-based predictive logistics deployment across all major terminals. Vessel scheduling optimization and congestion forecasting improved berth planning efficiency as integration with inland rail systems continued.

Incheon, South Korea

🔹 Incheon Airport Middle East Cargo Demand Holds Strong, Pharma Volumes Lead Expansion (May 25)
Incheon International Airport sustained elevated Middle East cargo growth supported by pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and high-value electronics. The newly expanded cold-chain facility operated near full utilization during the week.

🔹 Incheon–Busan Smart Port Integration Testing Accelerates Ahead of 2027 Launch (May 28)
Digital integration work between Incheon and Busan logistics systems advanced further, improving cargo visibility and electronic documentation processing for participating logistics firms.

United States

🔹 CAPE Refund Processing Continues, Importers Await First Large-Scale Disbursement (May 24)
US importers continued submitting claims through the CAPE tariff refund system as CBP prepared the first major round of refund distributions. Trade uncertainty surrounding additional Section 301 investigations continued influencing importer booking strategies.

🔹 Port of Los Angeles Throughput Remains Stable, Fuel & Labor Costs Pressure Operations (May 27)
Port of Los Angeles throughput remained stable despite ongoing geopolitical volatility and softer consumer demand trends. Rail dwell times stayed near 3 days, while trucking operators faced rising diesel and labor expenses. China-linked cargo remained a major component of total throughput.

Bangladesh

🔹 Chittagong Port Maintains High Utilization Ahead of Garment Peak Season (May 26)
Chittagong Port continued operating above designed capacity with additional cranes and extended operating hours supporting export flows. Preparations for the New Mooring Container Terminal handover remained on schedule.

🔹 Dhaka–Chittagong Rail Cargo Expansion Reduces Inland Congestion Further (May 28)
Bangladesh Railway maintained expanded container train frequency between Dhaka ICD and Chittagong Port, supporting garment export shipments while reducing highway congestion and inland logistics costs.

Myanmar

🔹 Yangon Port China Import Volumes Continue Recovery, Clearance Efficiency Improves (May 27)
Yangon Port maintained improving import flows from China across consumer goods, machinery, and construction materials. Simplified customs procedures and pre-declaration systems helped sustain stable clearance performance.

🔹 Myanmar Rail Freight Stabilizes, Agricultural Cargo Prioritized Nationwide (May 25)
Myanmar Railways sustained dedicated freight operations for agricultural products and essential construction materials, helping ease road congestion and stabilize domestic supply chains.

Middle East

Red Sea & Strait of Hormuz (May 23–29, 2026)

🔹 Hormuz Commercial Traffic Remains Severely Restricted, Africa Rerouting Still Dominant (May 29)
Commercial transits through the Strait of Hormuz remained far below historical averages, with most global liners continuing full Cape of Good Hope rerouting strategies. Industry estimates suggested normalization could still require several months despite ongoing diplomatic discussions.

🔹 Emergency Gulf Surcharges and Blank Sailings Tighten June Capacity (May 28)
Major carriers announced additional blank sailings and peak season surcharges across Asia–US and Asia–Europe routes. Emergency Gulf-linked surcharges remained elevated as carriers managed longer transit times and capacity displacement.

🔹 Egypt–Saudi Land Bridge Cargo Continues Growing, Reefer Cargo Share Expands (May 26)
The Egypt–Saudi multimodal corridor continued attracting refrigerated food and pharmaceutical cargo seeking alternatives to disrupted Gulf shipping routes. Transit times remained significantly shorter than Cape rerouting options.

🔹 Middle East Air Cargo Capacity Remains Elevated, Spot Rates Continue Softening (May 28)
Additional China–Gulf and Europe–Gulf freighter deployments kept regional air cargo capacity elevated. General cargo spot pricing eased further while pharmaceutical and priority electronics cargo maintained premium pricing levels.

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