The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, trade conflicts, and operational disruptions, context handled 133.9 million tons of maritime goods in the first half of 2026, a decrease of 2.4% compared to the same period last year. While RoRo grew (+5.9%) and bulk remained virtually stable (-1.3%), the decrease was primarily situated in the general cargo segment, with container handling being the main factor…
European wheat prices jumped 7% on Wednesday as escalating Black Sea attacks raised concerns over key grain export routes, with traders expecting some demand to shift to European Union supplies.Benchmark September milling wheat on Paris-based Euronext…
Container freight rates have continued to climb into July, with Drewry's World Container Index reaching $4,639 per forty-foot container on July 9, its highest level since September 2024, driven largely by rising rates on Asia-Europe trade routes…
The cost of shipping a container of goods from Asia to the United States has doubled since the start of the Iran war, driven by spiking fuel prices and an uptick in demand from importers who are worried costs will only rise further as the conflict wears on…
'The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed for three months, trapping hundreds of ships and thousands of seafarers in the Persian Gulf while significantly reducing global seaborne tanker volumes,” says Niels Rasmusssen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO…
U.S. import prices surged in April, with the cost of fuels posting the largest increase in four years, another indication that the U.S.-backed war with Iran was boosting inflation.Import prices increased 1.9% last month after an upwardly revised 0…
'Since the beginning of the Iran war, global seaborne crude oil shipments have fallen 16% compared to the first nine weeks of 2026, according to Signal Ocean data. This represents a reduction of 7.6 million barrels per day (mbdp) to 38.4 mbpd…
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have met representatives from Gulf States to address the ongoing conflict and its direct impact on seafarers and shipping in the Gulf.The meeting…
The trade of global fertilizer and ammonia faces intense pressure due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz as diplomatic talks between the US and Iran remain uncertain. Rystad Energy’s 2025 trade mapping shows that the sale of 15% of global ammonia and 21% of urea…
German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd is incurring additional costs of $40 million to $50 million per week due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a burden described as 'not sustainable for a long time' by Chief Executive Rolf Habben Jansen on Thursday…
Ship-refuelling companies along Africa's coast are seeing a surge in business as more vessels divert around the Cape of Good Hope, with war in the Middle East reshaping global shipping routes and boosting the continent's role as a bunkering hub…
Windward is publishing daily intelligence reports on the crisis in the Gulf as the situation develops.The highlights of today's report are as follows: Operation Epic Fury triggered immediate disruption across maritime chokepoints in the Gulf…
At least five tankers laden with crude oil have left Iranian ports since U.S.-led airstrikes on Iran began on February 28, with liquefied petroleum gas supplies also moving on Friday, according to ship trackers and traders.The Gulf region's…
As the conflict in the Gulf widens, maritime insurance premiums for war coverage are surging -- in some cases by more than 1000% -- dramatically driving up the cost of moving energy through a critical maritime corridor.The conflagration sparked by Saturday's Israeli-U…
Windward is publishing daily intelligence reports on the crisis in the Gulf as the situation develops.The highlights of today's report are as follows: The Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed, with only five vessel crossings recorded on March 4…
