Did You Know That…

…Container shipping faces overcapacity crisis as US tariffs and fleet growth converge.
· New US tariffs and trade uncertainty are slowing container shipping demand
· Fleet growth is projected to outpace container demand through 2029
· Unsettled China-US trade talks and potential October port fees add operational uncertainty.
The container shipping market faces growing overcapacity risks as fleet growth is expected to persistently outpace slowing demand.

…A tariff avalanche catches Switzerland unawares. The soaring rate is based on exports of Trump’s favourite metal. THE FIREWORKS celebrating the Rütlischwur, Switzerland’s foundational oath on August 1st 1291, had just subsided when Donald Trump announced that Swiss exports to America would soon face tariffs of 39%. It was a shock to Europe’s most stubbornly independent country. Karin Keller-Sutter, the president, flew to Washington on August 5th.

…Narendra Modi and Donald Trump go head-to-head. A dispute over tariffs and oil escalates. On August 4th Donald Trump took to Truth Social, his social-media platform, to berate India: because the country’s “massive” oil purchases fund “the Russian War Machine”, he said, it would suffer substantially steeper tariffs than the 25% the president slapped on the country last week. Two days later he added a further 25% from August 27th—pushing the total tariff rate to 50%. In some ways the president is not wrong: Russia supplied a negligible 0.2% of India’s oil imports before the war in Ukraine. Since then, it has become India’s biggest supplier, providing between 35% and 40%. But Mr Trump’s vendetta also marks an ugly end to his bromance with Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister.

…Guangzhou Port exits CULines stake amid container market volatility
· Guangzhou Port aims to sell its 14.7% stake in China United Lines
· Listed port operator hoping to increase financial management certainty
· CULines to be more agile in its overseas expansion.
The exit is expected to give CULines greater agility for its overseas expansion.

…Maersk raises 2025 guidance on strong quarterly results despite geopolitical and rate pressures.
· Maersk raised full-year ebitda guidance to $8bn-$9.5bn after second-quarter results beat analyst expectations
· Strong performance driven by successful Gemini network launch and resilient demand outside North America
· Earnings outlook suggests second-half challenges amid declining freight rates, US tariffs and overcapacity risks.
Maersk raised its full-year guidance after strong second-quarter results, though analysts warn of freight rate declines and overcapacity challenges in the second half.
 
…First-half box volumes hold strong despite June dip and tariff turbulence.
· Total 1H25 volumes reached 93.5m teu, up 4.5% year on year
· Container volumes dipped 3.4% from May’s record high
· China-US trade rebounds 50% amid tariff pause.
Global container shipping posted a resilient first half in 2025, with volumes up 4.5% year on year, despite a June slowdown and tariff uncertainty. Surging demand in emerging markets and a rebound in China-US trade helped lift numbers in the latest reporting month.
 
…New coast-to-coast services boost growing interest in rail freight in India. Container transport by rail in India is growing at a rapid pace, helped by infrastructure development and industry participation to tap into that growth.
 
…Bangladesh exporters rush to beat tariff deadline for US-bound cargo. With just two days to go, Bangladeshi exporters are rushing to get goods off the docks in Chittagong ahead of new tariffs on US imports.
 
…Action is the foundational key to all success.

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Have a good weekend and Summer Holidays ahead!