📌 Weekly Logistics Highlights (March 15–20, 2026)

This week, global logistics networks continued to adapt to prolonged Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz disruptions, with the crisis now impacting regional manufacturing sectors beyond shipping. China's green shipping initiatives gained momentum as ports expanded alternative fuel infrastructure. Southeast Asian nations pushed for greater supply chain resilience, while U.S. ports grappled with tariff uncertainty following a Supreme Court ruling. Air cargo to the Middle East remained elevated as sea diversions solidified into long-term operational changes.

China

Hong Kong, China

🔹 HK Green Shipping Fund Approves First Subsidy Batch (Mar 17)
Hong Kong's Marine Department approved the first batch of 12 applications under the HK$16 billion Green Shipping Fund, disbursing approximately HK$800 million for methanol vessel retrofitting and shore power installation projects. Approved projects include three methanol-powered container vessels and nine port-side electrification upgrades. The department aims to complete the second review round by May, accelerating the region's 2030 decarbonization target.

🔹 HKIA Cargo Volumes Remain Elevated at 460,000 Tons (Mar 19)
Hong Kong International Airport maintained cargo handling volumes at 460,000 tons this week, sustaining the 18% increase from early March. Transshipment demand from Southeast Asia to North America remained strong, with freighters utilizing night slots to clear backlogs. Pharmaceutical shipments utilizing cool chain facilities increased by 28% week-on-week, reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a global air cargo hub amid ongoing sea route disruptions.

Shenzhen, China

🔹 Yantian Port Methanol Bunkering Reaches 10 Weekly Operations (Mar 18)
Shenzhen Yantian Port expanded green methanol bunkering operations to 10 per week, servicing an increasing number of Asia-Europe liner vessels and two new Middle East services. Monthly methanol supply surpassed 4,000 tons, reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 2,800 tons since March 1. The port signed a third long-term supply agreement with a global energy trader to stabilize pricing through 2027.

🔹 Shenzhen Reports 22% Export Growth in Q1 2026 (Mar 16)
Shenzhen's exports maintained 22% year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2026, driven by new energy vehicles, electronics, and cross-border e-commerce. The city's logistics sector handled 1.8 million TEUs in Q1, up 18% from the same period last year. Logistics providers reported a 40% increase in warehousing space bookings in Dubai and Riyadh as sellers adopt "overseas warehouse" strategies to mitigate shipping delays.

Guangzhou, China

🔹 Nansha Port Adds Third Weekly Middle East Ro-Ro Service (Mar 19)
Guangzhou Nansha Port expanded its Middle East Ro-Ro service to three weekly departures, responding to sustained NEV export demand. The service now handles 4,500 vehicles per week to Jeddah and Dubai, with automated loading systems reducing port stay to under 10 hours. NEV exports through Nansha reached 15,000 vehicles in March, a 40% increase month-on-month.

🔹 Guangzhou Airport Cargo Volume to Middle East Up 30% (Mar 20)
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport reported a 30% weekly increase in air cargo volume to the Middle East, with flights to Dubai and Jeddah operating at full capacity. Electronics and pharmaceuticals accounted for 65% of shipments. Spot air freight rates held at $5.50–6.50/kg for general cargo, with priority cool chain shipments commanding $9–11/kg. Transit times averaged 10 hours, maintaining air freight's competitiveness against sea diversions.

Shanghai, China

🔹 COSCO Adjusts Middle East Network, Reports 98% Utilization (Mar 18)
COSCO Shipping reported 98% utilization on its 14 Asia-Middle East services rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope, with bookings extending through May. Transit times remained 8–10 days above normal, with Jeddah and Salalah handling 50% of Gulf-bound cargo for feeder transshipment. War-risk surcharges held at $1,500–2,000/20GP and $3,000–4,000/40HC, with freight rates stabilizing 38% above pre-crisis levels.

🔹 Yangshan Port Expands 5G Remote Crane Operations to 25 Berths (Mar 17)
Shanghai's Yangshan Deep Water Port expanded 5G-enabled remote crane operations to 25 berths, covering 60% of terminal capacity. The system now allows a single operator to control up to six cranes simultaneously, improving peak efficiency by 28% and reducing manual intervention by 45%. The port aims to complete full automation across all berths by September 2026.

Tianjin, China

🔹 Tianjin Port Green Corridor Covers 42% of Traffic (Mar 19)
Tianjin Port's green shipping corridor now covers 42% of total port traffic, with 60 LNG- and methanol-powered vessels using the facility this week. The port completed 40 additional shore power connections, bringing the total to 170. Monthly carbon emissions reduced by an estimated 4,500 tons in March, supporting Northern China's sustainable port development goals.

🔹 Binhai Airport Middle East Cargo Flights Increase to Five Weekly (Mar 16)
Tianjin Binhai International Airport increased cargo flights to Jeddah to five weekly, responding to sustained demand for auto parts and electronics. B747 freighters now provide weekly capacity of 1,500 tons, with transit times under 11 hours. The expanded service handles approximately 35% of Tianjin's air cargo to the Gulf region, alleviating pressure on sea routes affected by Hormuz disruptions.

Qingdao, China

🔹 Qingdao Port Green Fuel Bunkering Reaches 15 Weekly Operations (Mar 20)
Qingdao Port completed 15 green methanol and LNG bunkering operations this week, supplying over 1,800 tons of alternative fuels. The port offered berthing discounts totaling RMB 3.5 million to eco-friendly vessels in March. Bunkering volume is on track to double by Q2 2026, positioning Qingdao as Northern China's largest green fuel supply hub.

🔹 Qingdao–Osaka Cargo Flights Expand to Five Weekly (Mar 18)
Qingdao Airlines expanded its Qingdao–Osaka cargo service to five weekly flights, responding to strong demand for electronics and fresh agricultural products. B737‑800BCF freighters now provide weekly capacity of 750 tons, with dedicated cool chain lanes ensuring temperature control. The expanded service supports growing trade between Shandong Province and Japan's Kansai region.

Vietnam

🔹 Haiphong Port Throughput Up 25% in March (Mar 19)
Haiphong Port handled 380,000 TEUs in the first three weeks of March, on track for 25% monthly growth. Textile and electronics exports to the U.S. and EU rose 22%, supported by 24/7 port operations and streamlined customs procedures. Average container dwell time held at 2.5 days, down 60% from pre-crisis levels.

🔹 Vietnam's $2B Logistics Plan Attracts Foreign Investment Interest (Mar 17)
Vietnam's recently approved $2 billion logistics infrastructure plan attracted interest from Japanese and South Korean investors at the Hanoi Logistics Forum 2026. Key projects open for foreign participation include Cai Mep port expansion and Lang Son rail modernization. The government aims to finalize partnership agreements by Q3 2026, targeting a 15% reduction in logistics costs by 2030.

South Korea

Busan, South Korea

🔹 Busan Port Transshipment Volume Hits Record 650,000 TEUs (Mar 20)
Busan Port's weekly transshipment volume reached 650,000 TEUs, up 18% from early March and setting a new record for the third consecutive week. The port added 10 cranes and extended operating hours to handle the surge, with on-time performance holding at 96%. Semiconductor shipments through the dedicated "Chip Express" lane increased 35% week-on-week, supporting South Korean tech manufacturers.

🔹 Busan Port Signs MOU with Microsoft for AI Logistics, Pilot Shows 15% Gain (Mar 18)
The Busan Port Authority-Microsoft AI predictive logistics system pilot achieved a 15% efficiency gain in berth allocation during initial tests at two terminals. The machine learning system analyzes vessel schedules, weather data, and real-time congestion to reduce waiting times. Full rollout is scheduled for Q3 2026, targeting 20% overall port efficiency improvement.

Incheon, South Korea

🔹 Incheon Airport Air Cargo to Middle East Sustains 45% Increase (Mar 19)
Incheon International Airport sustained its 45% weekly increase in air cargo volume to the Middle East, with four weekly flights to Jeddah and Dubai operating at full capacity. High-value electronics and pharmaceuticals comprised 72% of shipments. The airport's cool chain facilities processed 35% more pharmaceutical shipments than February, maintaining transit times under 10 hours.

🔹 Incheon Port Smart Platform Processes 5,000 TEUs in First Month (Mar 17)
Incheon Port's smart logistics platform processed over 5,000 TEUs in its first month of operation, serving 320 logistics companies. The platform reduced documentation processing time by 55% and improved supply chain visibility for 95% of users. The port plans to integrate the platform with Busan's system by Q4 2026, creating a unified digital logistics network.

United States

🔹 U.S. Extends Tariff Review Period; Importers Seek Duty Refunds (Mar 16)
Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down most IEEPA-based tariffs, importers began filing claims for approximately $130 billion in duties collected since 2024. The U.S. government confirmed the temporary 10% tariff review period remains at 180 days, with further Section 301 investigations pending. Trans-Pacific spot rates remained elevated, up 12% since early March, as shippers locked in capacity amid policy uncertainty.

🔹 LA Port Throughput Holds at 520,000 TEUs Despite Tariff Uncertainty (Mar 20)
The Port of Los Angeles handled 520,000 TEUs this week, sustaining the 22% increase from early March. Twenty-four automated cranes and extended gates maintained truck turn times under 60 minutes. The port's rail ramp processed 38,000 containers, with dwell time holding at three days. Port Executive Director Gene Seroka noted that China still represents approximately 40% of the port's business, despite ongoing trade tensions.

Bangladesh

🔹 Chittagong Port Clears Backlog, Dwell Time Holds at 4 Days (Mar 19)
Chittagong Port sustained operations at 130% capacity, with 35 additional cranes and extended hours clearing textile machinery and raw materials ahead of the peak garment production season. Container dwell time held at four days, down from 12 days in February. A priority lane for garment exports ensured timely shipments to EU buyers for the spring-summer season.

🔹 Bangladesh Railway Expands Dhaka–Chittagong Container Trains to 15 Daily (Mar 18)
Bangladesh Railway expanded its daily container train service between Dhaka ICD and Chittagong Port to 15 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 20% and cut logistics costs by 22% for garment exporters, supporting just-in-time production needs amid strong export demand.

Myanmar

🔹 Yangon Port Imports from China Up 35% (Mar 20)
Yangon Port reported a 35% weekly increase in imports from China, 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 18 hours. Cross-border trade volumes remain strong as Myanmar's economy continues post-holiday recovery.

🔹 Myanmar Railways Expands Night Freight Services to 12 Daily Trips (Mar 18)
Myanmar Railways expanded night freight services on the Mandalay–Yangon route to 12 daily trips, utilizing refurbished locomotives and expanded siding capacity. Transit time remained at 10 hours, 25% faster than road transport. The service mainly transports rice, pulses, and construction materials, easing daytime highway congestion and supporting agricultural supply chains.

Middle East

Red Sea & Strait of Hormuz (Mar 15–20)

🔹 Hormuz Transit Remains 90% Below Pre-Crisis Levels
Commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained approximately 90% below pre-crisis levels, with only 8–12 vessels transiting daily. Major carriers maintained suspension of bookings to Gulf ports, with rerouting around Africa now fully embedded across all mainline services. About 240 container ships (600,000 TEU) remained diverted or held at alternative hubs.

🔹 Rerouting Solidifies; Transit Times Hold at 10–14 Days Extension
All mainline services to the Middle East continued rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10–14 days to voyages. Carriers extended war-risk surcharges through April, with rates holding at $1,500–2,000/20GP and $3,000–4,000/40HC. Gulf-bound freight rates remained 40–50% above pre-crisis levels, with carriers reporting 95%+ utilization on rerouted services.

🔹 Transshipment Hubs Scale Up Operations to 400,000 TEUs
Jeddah Islamic Port, Khor Fakkan, and Salalah collectively handled over 400,000 TEUs of diverted Gulf-bound cargo this week, up 33% from early March. Feeder services connecting these hubs to Gulf ports operated at full capacity with 2–4 day transit times. Dubai's Jebel Ali Port maintained reduced operations, focusing on essential and transshipment cargo.

🔹 Air Cargo to Gulf Remains 50% Above Pre-Crisis Levels, Rates Stable
Air cargo capacity to the Gulf region held 50% above pre-disruption levels, with freighter routes from China, South Korea, and Europe operating at full capacity. Spot air freight rates stabilized at $5–6/kg for general cargo, with priority shipments (electronics, pharma) commanding $8–10/kg. Transit times held at 8–12 hours, making air freight the preferred option for time-sensitive goods as sea diversions show no sign of abating.