Global Supply Chain Pulse

Shipping Disruptions

• 🔥 Spot Rates Surge 143%: West US spot rates stand at $1,550–1,700 per 40FT and East US at $2,400–2,500 per 40FT after a...

Middle East conflict disrupts global shipping, creating chaos and alternatives:

• Europe ports Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp overwhelmed by Africa...

Key leadership takeaways from Don Burnette on autonomous freight:

• Specializes in AI-powered self-driving trucks for long-haul operations
• Focuses...

Critical update for procurement planners:

• West US rates: $1,550–1,700 per 40FT
• East US rates: $2,400–2,500 per 40FT
• 143% surge in two weeks
• Carriers delayed March 15 GRI by one week due to soft demand

Time shipments carefully to dodge volatility.

Strait of Hormuz Traffic

• 🔥 Windward Update: Windward recorded three outbound crossings and no inbound transits through the Strait of Hormuz on...

Real-time Hormuz snapshot: Only 3 outbound transits, no inbound on March 15, far below normal.

• Vessel pile-up: Accumulation in Gulf of Oman,...

• Softer freight volumes but rising rates amid capacity contraction
• Flatbed: $2.72/mile (+$0.14 WoW, +$0.28 YoY); van: $2.52/mile (+$0.04)
• Rates up from $1.99-$2.03/mile early 2025
• Old Dominion, XPO, ArcBest poised for resilience and outperformance

Hormuz Strait Disruptions

• 🔥 Korean Exporters Hit Hard: Middle East crisis has blocked sea routes, causing containers to pile up at Incheon Port...

• OPEC retains oil forecast unchanged, noting Saudi Arabia's prior production increase.
• VLCC spot freight rates delivered strong February...

Container shipping volatility hits ZIM hard, but merger offers upside:

• Q4 earnings plunge: Freight rates -29% to $1,333/TEU, volume -9%, net income...

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, becomes India's first major port to implement a full geospatial digital twin platform—a key advancement in port automation for supply chain efficiency.

Los Angeles, the busiest U.S. container seaport, is mostly insulated from supply chain disruptions triggered by U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran. Key import hub holds steady as Middle East tensions escalate.

• Oil above $100 spikes fuel costs for every ship, rippling into freight rates.
• Box shipping faces $30-35bn extra bill if Hormuz crisis lasts a...

Sharp reversal in ocean freight: North Europe to Asia rates surged 8.09% week-on-week to $147/FEU, up 3.52% overall. Key signal for tightening capacity in global shipping.

Critical backlog at Incheon: Used car containers to UAE piling up, 70% of national exports handled there now delayed or canceled.

• Carrier chaos:...

• Crisis hit: Traditional US/UK-UAE lanes severed in 2026 ME closures
• Stranded risk: High-priority cargo left at international hubs
• Tactical win: Logistics resilience delivered 25+ tons amid breakdowns

G2 Ocean, open-hatch giant, reported $461m operating income in 2025, up from $401m in 2024, driven by higher freight rates and lower costs. A bright spot for multipurpose carriers amid volatility.

Multi-stakeholder responses to Strait closure reveal supply chain strain:

• Maersk CEO warns of mountains of containers blocking ports and causing...

Shipping companies are strategically pivoting global newbuilding contracts from container ships to tankers, driving a tanker orders surge. This fleet reallocation signals key demand shifts in the industry.

Oil price boom could deliver billions in revenues, but rising freight rates risk driving up food costs – squeezing commodity procurement in global supply chains.