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EXTRANS GLOBAL - Weekly Logistics Operation Update - Week 43-2026
📌 Weekly Logistics Highlights (17–23 October 2026)
Global container spot rates moved slightly higher this week, although export markets continued to diverge. On 22 October, Drewry’s World Container Index rose 2% to USD 4,585 per 40ft container, with increases recorded on the Shanghai–Los Angeles, Shanghai–New York, Shanghai–Rotterdam and Shanghai–Genoa routes. On 23 October, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index reached 3,681.34, up 0.05% from the previous reading. Korea’s composite container freight index declined 0.17% on 19 October, with increases on the North Europe, Mediterranean and Middle East routes but small declines on US routes.
The main market risks this week were a series of vessel security incidents around the Strait of Hormuz, the suspension of empty-container acceptance at London Gateway and temporary truck restrictions around the Canton Fair complex in Guangzhou.
China Market Updates
Hong Kong
🔹 Hong Kong and Shanghai establish a “sister port” partnership
On 20 October, the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board and the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission signed a strategic memorandum of understanding to establish a “sister port” relationship. Areas of cooperation include smart ports and shipping, container liner services, green and low-carbon shipping, high-end maritime services and multimodal logistics.
Shenzhen
🔹 Shenzhen Port’s foreign-trade container throughput increases 7.4%
The Shenzhen municipal government reported on 20 October that Shenzhen Port handled 26.381 million TEU of foreign-trade containers during the first nine months of 2026, up 7.4% year on year. China–Europe freight train volume increased 21.4%, while cargo value rose 41.4%. Shenzhen has established 18 multimodal transport routes.
Guangzhou
🔹 Truck traffic controls introduced around the Canton Fair complex
The second phase of the 140th Canton Fair was held from 23 to 27 October. Guangzhou traffic authorities introduced truck restrictions on selected roads and during specified periods around the Pazhou exhibition complex. Licensed exhibition cargo vehicles followed appointment-based waiting and phased-entry procedures during move-in and move-out periods.
Shanghai
🔹 Green Shipping Corridor annual progress report released at the North Bund
The Global Maritime Forum Annual Summit was held at Shanghai’s North Bund on 21–22 October. Its annual progress report on green shipping corridors indicated that nearly one-fifth of the world’s green shipping corridor projects connect with Chinese ports. Port infrastructure, clean-fuel supply and cross-regional cooperation remain central to corridor development.
Tianjin
🔹 Tianjin Port’s container throughput increases 3.6%
During the first nine months of 2026, Tianjin Port Group handled 390 million tonnes of cargo, up 1.3% year on year, and 19.61 million TEU of containers, up 3.6%. Sea–rail intermodal volume increased 5.3%. Tianjin Port currently operates 152 container shipping routes and 48 sea–rail services.
Qingdao
🔹 Qingdao Port expands the use of port-industry artificial intelligence
On 17 October, the Qingdao municipal government reported that the Xinggang port-industry large language model, led by Qingdao Port, had been deployed across safety, production scheduling and port and shipping services. The 35-billion-parameter system is connected with the YunGangTong platform and supports services including transport quotations, cargo tracking and customs information. Qingdao Port has developed 36 intelligent agents across 80 application scenarios.
Vietnam Market Update
🔹 Vietnam SuperPort expands high-tech cargo handling capacity
Vietnam SuperPort announced on 22 October that it had expanded its off-airport cargo terminal operations, with a focus on artificial intelligence hardware and electronics. The company reported annual handling and storage capacity of 30,000 tonnes. Since beginning operations in July 2026, the facility has handled approximately 2,000 tonnes of cargo, 9,000 pallets and around 80 unit load device build-ups.
Korea Market Updates
Busan
🔹 Korea’s composite container freight index declines slightly
On 19 October, the Korea Containerized Freight Index stood at 4,646, down eight points or 0.17% from the previous reading. The US West Coast and US East Coast routes declined 0.35% and 0.16%, respectively. North Europe, Mediterranean and Middle East routes increased 1.27%, 2.74% and 1.01%.
Incheon
🔹 Regional container vessel calls continue at Incheon Port
Official Incheon Port vessel records show that several container ships called at the port during the reporting period, with related previous or subsequent ports including Ningbo, Weihai, Shekou, Qingdao and Busan. The records confirm continuing regional vessel calls but do not provide weekly congestion or aggregate throughput data.
United States Market Update
🔹 Port of Los Angeles records its lowest emissions per container
The Port of Los Angeles released its 2025 air emissions inventory on 22 October. Compared with 2005, diesel particulate matter, nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide emissions declined 90%, 72% and 98%, respectively, while greenhouse gas emissions fell 16%. Container throughput increased 37% over the same period. The port reported that emissions per container had reached their lowest recorded level.
Bangladesh Market Update
🔹 Chattogram NCT protest group suspends planned hunger strike
The dispute surrounding operating arrangements for Chattogram’s New Mooring Container Terminal eased during the week. Following discussions with the shipping authorities, the protest group suspended an indefinite hunger strike that had been scheduled to begin on 19 October. Public reports did not indicate a port-wide shutdown resulting from the action.
Myanmar Market Update
🔹 Myanmar Port Authority continues to update Yangon berthing information
The Myanmar Port Authority updated its vessel berthing lists on 19, 21 and 23 October, continuing to publish vessel and berth information for the Yangon port area. The official material did not include weekly aggregate throughput or congestion data.
Middle East Market Update
🔹 Vessels struck by unknown projectiles around the Strait of Hormuz
Between 18 and 23 October, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations office issued four incident warnings involving a tug and several tankers near Khor Fakkan in the UAE, Bukha and Limah in Oman, and southeast of Al Faw in Iraq. The vessels reported being struck by unknown projectiles. One incident caused a minor injury, while a fire aboard one tanker was subsequently extinguished. Responsibility for the incidents has not been confirmed.
Europe Market Updates
🔹 Antwerp-Bruges reports a stronger third quarter for containers
On 20 October, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges reported total cargo throughput of 200.9 million tonnes for the first nine months of 2026, down 0.8% year on year. Container throughput measured in TEU increased 1.2%. The third quarter was the port’s strongest container quarter since the fourth quarter of 2020.
🔹 London Gateway suspends empty-container acceptance
Maersk announced on 23 October that London Gateway had suspended acceptance of empty containers from 12:00 that day until further notice. At the time of the announcement, the suspension was expected to remain in place throughout the weekend.
Please confirm the latest arrangements with your local EXTRANS GLOBAL team before shipment.
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