EXTRANS GLOBAL - Weekly Logistics Operation Update - Week 39-2026

📌 Weekly Logistics Highlights (September 19-25, 2026) 

As of September 24, Drewry's World Container Index fell 1% week on week to USD 4,468 per 40-foot container. Shanghai-Los Angeles rose 2% to USD 7,838, while Shanghai-New York remained at USD 10,373. Shanghai-Genoa and Shanghai-Rotterdam declined 5% and 4% to USD 3,835 and USD 3,485, respectively. The SCFI was broadly unchanged at 3,686.62. 

The week's main market risks were repeated vessel-security incidents around the Strait of Hormuz, low inland-water levels and barge congestion in Europe, and increased blank sailings ahead of China's Golden Week. As of September 24, IMO had confirmed 85 attacks on international shipping and 24 seafarer fatalities during the current Middle East crisis. An operator reported average barge waits of 44 hours in Antwerp and 43 hours in Rotterdam. 

China 

Hong Kong 

🔹 Port automation roadmap under development 

Hong Kong's Transport and Logistics Bureau said on September 22 that the city was formulating a port automation roadmap to strengthen its competitiveness as an international maritime centre. The Port Community System launched in January is connecting trade and capital flows across sea, land and air networks, while wider use of blockchain-recorded cargo data is planned to support trade financing. 

Shenzhen 

🔹 Joint vessel-emissions enforcement launched 

Shenzhen's environmental, transport and maritime authorities launched a joint vessel-emissions enforcement operation at Qianhai Bay Bonded Port Area on September 22. Of 130 eligible berths outside oil, gas and chemical terminals, 124 have shore-power facilities, representing coverage above 95%. Since the start of 2026, vessels have connected to shore power 9,080 times and consumed more than 40 million kWh. 

Guangzhou 

🔹 Nansha grain-terminal silo expansion completed 

The third-phase silo project at the grain and general cargo terminal in Guangzhou Port's Nansha area passed final completion acceptance. The project added 32 large-diameter silos and 56 vertical silos with 638,000 tonnes of capacity, supported by intake capacity of 8,000 tonnes per hour and outbound capacity of 6,000 tonnes per hour. Total storage across all three phases now reaches 1.5 million tonnes. 

Shanghai 

🔹 SCFI remained broadly stable 

The Shanghai Shipping Exchange reported an SCFI reading of 3,686.62 on September 24, down 1.21 points from 3,687.83 on September 18 and broadly unchanged overall. 

Tianjin 

🔹 Northern China container index edged lower 

Tianjin Shipping Index data for September 24 showed the Tianjin Container Freight Index at 2,016.57, down 0.06% from the previous release day. The composite Tianjin Shipping Index stood at 1,482.52, down 0.19%, while the Tianjin Bulk Freight Index reached 1,446.28, down 0.49%. 

Qingdao 

🔹 SCO Demonstration Area dispatched its 1,000th TIR vehicle 

The SCO Demonstration Area dispatched its 1,000th TIR international road vehicle during the week. The truck departed from the Silk Road E-commerce service base for Moscow. Published figures put cumulative international road freight at 16,000 tonnes with cargo value of RMB 720 million. 

Vietnam 

🔹 Ho Chi Minh City advanced logistics connectivity plans 

Ho Chi Minh City's industry and trade authorities held an import-export and supply-chain promotion conference on September 21. Discussions focused on expanding export markets, reducing logistics costs and strengthening companies' participation in global supply chains. Plans included dredging the Soài Rạp and Lòng Tàu channels, improving access to seaport group No. 4, accelerating ring-road projects and developing An Bình as an international intermodal rail station. 

South Korea 

Busan 

🔹 KCCI rose about 1.4% 

The Korea Ocean Business Corporation's Container Composite Index reached 4,760 on September 21, up 64 points, or about 1.4%, from 4,696 a week earlier. US West Coast and US East Coast route indices rose, while Europe, Mediterranean and Middle East indices declined. 

Incheon 

🔹 Special holiday port operations introduced 

The Incheon Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries and Incheon Port Authority announced special port operating measures for September 24-27 to support the smooth handling of vessels and import-export cargo at Incheon and Gyeongin ports. Port services continued through the four-day Chuseok holiday period. 

United States 

🔹 Transpacific rates held firm as blank sailings increased 

Transpacific spot rates remained comparatively firm. As of September 24, Shanghai-Los Angeles rose 2% week on week to USD 7,838 per 40-foot container, while Shanghai-New York held at USD 10,373. Drewry said 15 Transpacific blank sailings had been announced for the following week, up from nine in the current week. 

Bangladesh 

🔹 Chattogram Port advanced six digitalisation initiatives 

Chattogram Port Authority announced six digitalisation and automation initiatives on September 23. Measures include generating container and consignee bills through the Terminal Operating System, introducing online e-gate passes and gate-in and gate-out processes, and integrating time-slot management, electronic documentation and vessel e-NOCs. The authority aims to move toward a fully paperless smart port by December 2026. 

Myanmar 

🔹 Yangon berthing lists were updated 

The Myanma Port Authority updated Yangon berthing lists on September 21 and 24, with the September 24 release reflecting port status on September 23. The public pages did not provide a consolidated weekly throughput figure, so no cargo-volume or efficiency estimate was made. 

Middle East Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz 

🔹 IMO confirmed additional vessel incidents 

As of September 24, the International Maritime Organization had confirmed 85 attacks on international shipping during the current Middle East crisis and 24 seafarer fatalities. AL MARYAH and LR STEPHANIE were damaged on September 21, with two seafarers injured aboard the latter. CAPE DAO was damaged about 15 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, on September 23, resulting in one seafarer fatality. No pollution was reported in the three incidents. 

Europe 

🔹 Barge congestion and low water continued to disrupt inland flows 

European inland and port connections remained under pressure. On September 23, an operator reported average barge-handling waits of 44 hours in Antwerp and 43 hours in Rotterdam and also flagged low Rhine water levels. Germany's B9 between Speyer Nord and Speyer Süd has been closed in both directions since September 19 because of severe bridge damage. Asia-Europe spot rates also fell, with Shanghai-Genoa down 5% to USD 3,835 and Shanghai-Rotterdam down 4% to USD 3,485 per 40-foot container as of September 24. 

Important Notice 

The above market information is current through September 25, 2026. Freight rates, capacity, schedules, port operations and maritime security conditions are subject to change. 

Please contact your local EXTRANS GLOBAL team before shipment to confirm the latest arrangements.

Share this article :