Cargo News

Venezuela's dilapidated oil port terminals are imposing a de facto export cap on the country's resurgent crude production, with tankers having to wait up to 30 days to load because of ageing infrastructure, power outages and quality issues, according to shipping data, sources and documents.The delays are putting roadblocks on a U.S. plan to quickly boost Venezuela's oil exports following a flagship pact with global trading houses. The fight for infrastructure looks likely to intensify…

Seven commodity ships sailed along the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, just half the previous day's tally, showed data from shiptracker Kpler, amid concern over risk to Middle East shipping as U.S.-Iran peace talks remain in limbo.Of the total, four ships entered and three exited the waterway, which was used by nearly a fifth of global shipments of crude oil and liquefied natural gas before war began in February.The seven did not include any very large crude carriers or liquefied natural gas tankers.However, one very large gas carrier - carrying propane and butane - did transit out of Hormuz via

Trade activity across the Houston Ship Channel region remained strong, while Port Houston gained momentum with increases in imports, empties and a modest decline in exports.“Our region remains resilient through evolving global trade conditions. Vessel activity in the nation’s busiest waterway is up, and we continue to see steady cargo movement that helps power industries like energy, manufacturing and retail, crucial to our national economy,” said Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston.Key takeaways:The Houston Ship Channel region’s total trade by tonnage increased 16% year to date through June…

Over the last five weeks (week 29-33) global grain shipments have fallen 8% y/y, fuelled by a 26% y/y drop in grain exports from the Black Sea as Russian and Ukrainian attacks on ships and port infrastructure have intensified.“A recent proposal by Ukraine to halt attacks on shipping in the Black Sea has been rejected by Russia, reducing hopes for a near-term recovery in exports. In addition, weaker maize shipments from Brazil due to delayed harvest have weighed on global grain volumes…

Crowley, a provider of logistics, marine and energy solutions, announced a new weekly container service connecting Port Houston to Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala, and Puerto Cortés, Honduras, two of Central America’s largest and fastest-growing trade gateways.The Gulf-Central America Express Service makes its first Houston call on Sept. 10 with Thursday departures. Crowley’s vessels will carry dry and refrigerated containers that safely transport a range of fresh produce, apparel, industrial products and consumer goods from sea to land.

IDEA Logistics has arranged the sea transportation of a 136.5-ton Yankee Dryer from Karlstad, Sweden to Iskenderun, Türkiye.The main unit measures approximately 9.02 m x 5.62 m x 5.72 m and weighs 136.5 tons. The shipment also includes additional equipment, bringing the total cargo weight to approximately 146 tons.The Yankee Dryer will be used in paper production as part of an industrial investment in Türkiye. Due to the navigational and draft restrictions around Karlstad and the lake system, not every vessel is suitable for calling the loading location.

The Global Ro-Ro Community (GRC)*1, whose participants include Ro-Ro carriers and other stakeholders, and which covers approximately 80% of the transport capacity of the global car carrier fleet*2, has established the GRC Council (GRCC), a body responsible for the operation of the GRC. Since the establishment of the GRC, ClassNK has participated as an independent verifier. In connection with the establishment of the GRCC, ClassNK has also contributed to the development of its…

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed, data showed on Wednesday, as most shipowners avoided the key waterway because of a lack of clear signalling on its reopening from a blockade during the Iran war.Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, Kpler data showed by 0258 GMT, down from nine a day earlier and below the 10-day daily average of 11.Inbound traffic included an empty very large crude carrier that followed the Omani side of the strait, as well as two tankers…

Iraq's cabinet approved mechanisms for exporting Iraqi crude through specialized international and local companies and via multiple export outlets, the government said on Tuesday.The contracts under the new mechanism will run for three months starting September 1, according to a statement issued after the cabinet meeting.Iraq is seeking to diversify its oil export channels and maintain flexibility in marketing its crude amid the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz…

Ship crossings via the Strait of Hormuz were still in single digits on Monday, despite rising slightly from the weekend, according to preliminary shipping data on Tuesday, amid a stalemate in U.S. and Iranian peace talks.Six commodity ships transited the strait on Monday, of which three were exiting the Gulf and three were entering, Kpler shiptracking data showed, compared with the 10-day average of 11 ships. Three ships transited on Saturday while two moved through the waterway…

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed over the weekend, data showed on Monday, following attacks on tankers, while U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the Middle East conflict stalled.Five commodity vessels transited the strait on Saturday, with none registered for Sunday, shiptracking data from Kpler showed, versus 31 in the prior weekend.Ships entering the strait on Saturday included an empty very large crude carrier with its Automatic Identification System switched off and an Indian-flagged very large gas carrier that used the Iranian route…

Ukraine has sent Russia an offer suggesting they both halt attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea, a source said, after mounting strikes on vessels and ports there raised fears over global food supplies.The offer to suspend attacks was transmitted by Kyiv via a third party, and Ukraine was still waiting for a response, the source who is familiar with the matter told Reuters.Both Russia and Ukraine, major players in the world agriculture market, have accused each other of…

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said on Thursday the Department of Homeland Security has approved a second 90-day extension of a Jones Act waiver first issued on March 17, 2026, allowing certain covered cargoes to continue moving on foreign-flagged vessels between U.S. ports under specified conditions.The waiver will commence on August 17, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. ET, the CBP guidance said.CBP said any covered product must be loaded onboard a vessel before the waiver expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on November 15, 2026.

Hapag-Lloyd reported a recovery in second-quarter 2026 earnings as stronger container volumes and spot rates helped counter roughly $600 million in additional costs stemming from the Middle East conflict.The German container shipping group posted Q2 EBITDA of $829 million, slightly above $820 million a year earlier, while EBIT slipped to $176 million from $189 million. Group profit fell sharply to $83 million from $306 million. Revenue increased to $5.84 billion from $5.27 billion.The improvement from a weak first quarter was driven by strong Asian exports and improved U.S. demand.

Danish shipping group Maersk on Thursday raised its full-year earnings guidance for a second time this year and smashed profit forecasts as global container demand proved resilient in the face of the Middle East conflict.Surging freight rates, fuelled by gridlocked ports and strong Chinese export growth, delivered a windfall that dwarfed the additional costs caused by Middle East disruption, defying fears that the conflict would tip the global economy into recession and dent container demand.Maersk's second-quarter profit before interest…

Just how much crude oil is leaving the Strait of Hormuz?U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright claims almost nine million barrels per day, but the companies that track vessel movements say at best it is about half this volume.The amount of crude leaving the Middle East via the narrow chokepoint matters, as it's this oil that goes to Asia, the top energy-consuming region that has been hardest hit by the fallout since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.Wright said on social media platform X on August 12 that "thanks to the coordinated efforts of the U.S.

"In the first half of 2026, Chinese iron ore mining fell by 7% y/y due to a 6% y/y increase in iron ore net imports and weaker steel production. The country is increasingly sourcing its iron ore from abroad because it is often of higher grade and competitively priced. Iron ore net imports now account for 57% of China’s iron ore supply compared to 50% in the first half of 2022,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.While China’s iron ore supply slightly increased in the first half of 2026, demand from steel mills weakened.

A wave of new investment in dedicated shuttle tankers has been spurred by the age profile of the existing fleet coupled with surging developments in the Brazilian offshore market.Constituting a specialized asset class, dynamic positioning (DP) shuttle tankers are a flexible and cost effective way of lifting and transporting oil from offshore fields, where subsea pipelines are not a practical or economically viable option.Production platforms or floating units are increasingly located in deepwater areas prone to challenging weather and hydrological conditions…

The U.S. military fired missiles to disable a Panama-flagged cargo ship Tuesday after the vessel allegedly ignored repeated warnings to stop while attempting to violate the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said a U.S. Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at the engine room of Vela Nova, disabling the vessel’s steering capability.“As of Aug. 11, CENTCOM has redirected 55 commercial vessels attempting to run the blockade, disabled 3 non-compliant vessels…

ABB will supply the integrated power and propulsion system for Grand Tour, a new 230-meter semi-submersible heavy transport vessel being built by Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) for offshore contractor Allseas.Scheduled for delivery in 2028, Grand Tour is designed to transport large offshore wind converter stations from fabrication facilities in Asia and Europe and transfer them directly to Allseas’ heavy construction vessel Pioneering Spirit for offshore installation.Converter stations play a central role in long-distance offshore wind power transmission…

The U.S. government has sold for scrap two sanctioned oil tankers that were seized in the days after Washington's raid on Venezuela, Lloyd's List reported on Monday.Dubai-headquartered vessel recycling firm Global Marketing Systems purchased the tankers last month for an undisclosed sum, according to the report.The sale included the Era, previously operating as Marinera and Bella 1, and the Lileo, previously sailing as Galileo and Veronica, the report said. The tankers will be demolished in scrap yards in India.“The U.S.

Descartes Systems Group has released its August Global Shipping with figures indicting that July 2026 U.S. container import volumes increased 4.5% over June to 2,508,310 TEUs, reflecting typical month-over-month seasonal growth.July U.S. containerized imports from the top 10 countries of origin increased 4.9% month-over-month for a combined increase of 83,706 TEUs. China recorded the largest volume gain, increasing 58,655 TEUs (7.2%) to its highest monthly total since July 2025.Other notable increases came from Hong Kong…

By Richard Gunn and Julia Cyrson, Reed Smith LLPIn the largest penalty the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) has ever levied, a Special Chamber ruled unanimously against Equatorial Guinea on May 27, 2026, ordering it to pay over €14 million in damages to the Republic of the Marshall Islands for the unlawful seizure of a commercial tanker and detention of its multinational crew. The ruling in the M/T Heroic Idun (No. 2) case represents a watershed moment for international maritime law…