BIMCO: Geopolitics, supply chains – and the human face of global trade
BIMCO: Geopolitics, supply chains – and the human face of global trade
in
International Shipping News
28/04/2026
E
vents in the Middle East are once again reminding the world of a fundamental truth: global supply chains are not abstract systems. They are physical, exposed, and deeply intertwined with the wider world economy.
Disruption in one region now reverberates rapidly across markets, industries and societies. Energy flows, commodity prices, inflationary pressures and trade routes are all affected – not in theory, but in practice.
Europe to see some returning jet supply from the Middle East in May
Europe to see some returning jet supply from the Middle East in May
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Freight News
28/04/2026
Europe is expected to see some jet supply loading out of Oman discharge into the region amid an opening arbitrage between the regions, according to sources close to the matter.
The Sea Penguin, an LR2 tanker is set to load at Duqm April 25 for discharge into UKC, Platts fixtures reports showed, with a lumpsum rate of $6.75 million. It previously loaded 102,000 mt of jet fuel from Korea for discharge in Malaysia on April 9.
The fixture comes as an early sign of improving arbitrage incentives. Platts assessed the jet kero FOB Arab Gulf flat price at $171/b April 23, around $1,365.90/mt.
Tanker freight behaviour diverges after the conflict shock
Tanker freight behaviour diverges after the conflict shock
in
International Shipping News
28/04/2026
T
he conflict has triggered a sharp repricing across tanker freight, but the response has not been uniform. Crude and clean tankers both rallied as disruption risk centred on the Middle East Gulf forced charterers and owners to reassess exposure to the Strait of Hormuz.
However, the underlying drivers are now diverging. Dirty freight is increasingly showing the characteristics of a disruption led rally that is becoming more selective, while clean freight continues to look more structurally supported by tighter effective vessel supply and a deeper reshuffling of trade flows.
Crude rally fragments as Atlantic tonnage rebuilds
Crude tanker freight reacted first and most aggressively.
CargoTech: The power of tech in times of crisis
CargoTech: The power of tech in times of crisis
in
International Shipping News
28/04/2026
In the face of ongoing instability in the Middle East, CargoTech and its member companies show that tailored technology drives successful crisis management. With their unique blend of innovation and industry expertise, CargoTech’s members intelligently combine market and commercial data with advanced artificial intelligence (AI), to support air cargo companies in navigating unpredictable environments, optimising network capacity, and making informed decisions under pressure.
CargoTech’s mission is clear: to provide customers with real-time visibility, dynamic scenario planning opportunities, and agile decision support during crises. By building AI components into the tech tools across its portfolio, CargoTech enables freight forwarders, airlines, and logistics providers to react quickly to market shifts, capacity disruptions, and evolving customer needs.
Understanding customer needs during crisis
Chokepoints and conflict: How the Hormuz crisis is exposing global shipping vulnerabilities
Chokepoints and conflict: How the Hormuz crisis is exposing global shipping vulnerabilities
in
International Shipping News
28/04/2026
The blockading of ships in the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the conflict between the United States and Iran has demonstrated how ships and seafarers have become “leverage in geopolitical disputes,” according to the head of the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Since conflict began with the US-Israeli bombing of Iran in late February, up to 20,000 seafarers have been stranded on some 2,000 vessels in the Persian Gulf, which is bordered by Iran to the north, unable to pass safely through the narrow waterway.
Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the IMO spoke to UN News ahead of a key meeting about maritime security due to take place in the Security Council on Monday.
UN News: What is maritime security?
Arsenio Dominguez: Maritime security covers the protection of ships, ports, seafarers, and maritime infrastructure from any type of secu
Turning Off AIS While Transiting Hormuz Offers False Sense Of Security, Advises Cydome
Turning Off AIS While Transiting Hormuz Offers False Sense Of Security, Advises Cydome
in
International Shipping News
28/04/2026
Leading maritime cyber solutions expert Cydome is advising shipmanagers with assets transiting high-risk waters that disabling a vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) is creating a false sense of security, as the vessel’s location and position can remain electronically visible.
In a Cydome research paper published this week, the company says turning off AIS can actually increase the risk of attack.
The advisory follows a surge in reported AIS blackouts across the Persian Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz, amid growing concern around so-called “zombie ships” that appear to vanish from tracking systems.
The reality is that these ships and their locations remain exposed in many cases and potentially vulnerable through other connected gateways.
This research addresses a widening gap between traditional maritime security tactics and modern digital rea
Asia-US container rates stable to slightly higher; tanker rates mixed
Asia-US container rates stable to slightly higher; tanker rates mixed
in
International Shipping News
28/04/2026
Rates for shipping containers from east Asia and China to the US rose slightly this week while liquid chemical tanker rates saw slight declines on the major trade lanes and a bump for cargoes destined for India.
CONTAINER RATES
Container rates from supply chain advisors Drewry rose by 4% from Shanghai to Los Angeles and are up by 12% from the same week a year ago, and were essentially flat from Shanghai to New York, with rates being down by 1% over the past year.
The following chart from Drewry shows rates ex-Shanghai.
Drewry said the increase on the transpacific route was driven by carrier capacity reductions to counter seasonal demand softness.
According to Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight, nine blank sailings have been announced for next week to manage higher capacity, and they expect freight rates to remain relatively less volatile in the next week.
Rates from online s
Tanker Market: Ton-Mile Demand Could Shift
Tanker Market: Ton-Mile Demand Could Shift
in
Hellenic Shipping News
28/04/2026
T
he existing blockade of the Hormuz Strait could be far reaching and have long-lasting effects in the tanker market, essentially increasing ton-mile demand. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Intermodal said that “in the VLCC market, Basrah exports are one of the main short-term variables. Iraq is one of the largest Gulf crude suppliers into Asia, and Basrah is one of the main loading points for long-haul VLCC business on the Middle East Gulf to China route, which is reflected in Baltic’s TD3C benchmark framework.
FMC Chair Joins U.S. Opposition to IMO Carbon Plan With Warning
Photo: BNMK 0819/Shutterstock
FMC Chair Joins U.S. Opposition to IMO Carbon Plan With Warning
Mike Schuler
Total Views: 0
April 27, 2026
The chair of the Federal Maritime Commission has joined the U.S. delegation to
high-stakes climate talks
at the UN’s International Maritime Organization, accompanied by an explicit warning that could signal a more confrontational U.S.
Trump to Address Iran Proposal ‘Soon’ as Oil Rises Further
A 3D-printed miniature model depicting U.S. President Donald Trump and a map showing the Strait of Hormuz, also known as Madiq Hurmuz, are seen in this illustration taken March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
Trump to Address Iran Proposal ‘Soon’ as Oil Rises Further
Bloomberg
Total Views: 0
April 28, 2026
By Arsalan Shahla and Eltaf Najafizada
Apr 28, 2026 (Bloomberg) –US President Donald Trump convened his national security team to discuss Iran’s proposal to end a war now in its third month and which has left thousands dead across the Middle East, as well as disrupted energy supplies.
Trump will address the matter “very soon,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday.