JUPITER SEA & AIR
SERVICES PVT. LTD, EGMORE – CHENNAI, INDIA.
E-MAIL : Robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in Mobile : +91 98407 85202
Corporate News Letter for Monday April 27, 2026
Today’s
Exchange Rates
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CURRENCY▲ |
PRICE |
CHANGE |
%CHANGE |
OPEN |
PREV.CLOSE |
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94.26 |
0.139999 |
0.148746 |
94.21 |
94.12 |
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1.1685 |
0.0002 |
0.017112 |
1.1683 |
1.1683 |
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127.0467 |
-0.004898 |
-0.003855 |
126.7996 |
127.0516 |
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110.2106 |
0.164505 |
0.149487 |
110.0209 |
110.0461 |
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159.734 |
0.023987 |
0.015019 |
159.71 |
159.71 |
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1.3478 |
0.0011 |
0.081686 |
1.3467 |
1.3467 |
1.3454- 1.3484 |
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0.5903 |
0.0002 |
0.033898 |
0.5896 |
0.5901 |
0.5892- 0.5907 |
/// Sea Cargo News ///
Iran releases footage of seized container
ships in Strait of Hormuz
Iran has
released video footage showing the seizure of the container vessel EPAMINONDAS
in the Strait of Hormuz, following an incident that has further escalated
tensions in the region.
According to
international reports, the Liberia-flagged EPAMINONDAS, along with the MSC
Francesca, has been moved into Iranian territorial waters after both vessels
were attacked and immobilised on April 22.
The vessel
is owned by Greek interests through Technomar Shipping. The company has
confirmed that Iranian forces boarded the ship, marking a significant
escalation in the incident.
Technomar
stated that the crew of 21 seafarers, comprising Ukrainian and Filipino
nationals, remains safe and in good health. No injuries or environmental
pollution have been reported.
The released
footage reportedly shows both the EPAMINONDAS and the MSC Francesca, which were
targeted during the same operation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident
underscores the growing risks to commercial shipping in one of the world’s most
critical maritime chokepoints, as geopolitical tensions continue to impact
vessel safety and freedom of navigation in the area.
Hapag Lloyd to suspend Red Sea Services JD2
and JD3
Hapag-Lloyd
has announced the temporary suspension of its JD2 and JD3 services, effective
May10, 2026. This decision is part of ongoing network adjustments in the Red
Sea aimed at consolidating capacity and maintaining operational stability in
the region.
Service
Impacts :
Suspended
Services – JD2 and JD3 will cease operations until further notice.
Continued
Coverage – The JD1 and SE4 services will remain active to provide coverage for
Jeddah.
Aqaba
Connectivity – Cargo destined for or originating from Aqaba will be served via
feeder connections through the remaining active routes.
Final
Voyages : The following sailings will be the last for their respective services
before the suspension takes effect:
|
Service |
Vessel/Voyage |
ETD |
Port |
|
JD2 |
GSL Tinos
V.620W |
May 11,
2026 |
Jeddah |
|
JD3 |
Merkur
Ocean V.619W |
May 10,
2026 |
Jeddah |
Container ship hit by gunfire off Oman
Coast
A container
vessel linked to Greek interest came under fire while sailing near the coast of
Oman, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the region.
The incident
occurred approximately 15 nautical miles off the Omani coastline, when the
Liberia-flagged container ship EPAMINONDAS (IMO 9153862) was approached by an
armed vessel. According to maritime security sources, the ship is owned by the
Greek interests company Technomar and is under the management of MSC.
Reports
indicate that a gunboat believed to be operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the vessel without issuing any prior
communication via VHF radio. Shortly after, the boat opened fire, striking the
ship and causing significant damage to the bridge.
The vessel’s
master reported the incident to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO),
confirming that while the bridge sustained heavy damage, there were no fires or
environmental impact as a result of the attack.
All crew
members on board were reported safe, with no injuries recorded. The incident
highlights ongoing risks for commercial shipping in the wider Middle East
region, where geopolitical tensions continue to pose challenges to safe
navigation.
World’s largest all-electric container vessel delivered
China has
taken a major step in green shipping with the delivery and deployment of the
world’s largest fully electric container vessel, Ningyuan Diankun.
The vessel,
developed by Ningbo Ocean Shipping Co., has officially entered service, marking
a milestone as both China’s first pure electric intelligent container ship and
the largest of its kind globally, with a displacement of 10,000 tons.
Ningyuan
Diankun measures 127.8 meters in length and 21.6 meters in width, with a
carrying capacity of 742 TEU. It is powered by 10 standardized battery
containers, providing a total energy storage capacity of approximately 20,000
kilowatt-hours equivalent to the combined capacity of around 300 electric
vehicles.
The ship
recently departed from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port on its maiden operational voyage to
the Zhapu port area in Jiaxing, marking its official entry into commercial
service.
According to
port authorities, the vessel is expected to deliver significant environmental
benefits, including annual fuel savings of approximately 580 tons and a
reduction of more than 1,400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
With its
zero-emission and zer-pollution operations, the Ningyuan Diankun represents a
major advancement in sustainable maritime transport, highlighting China’s
growth focus on electrification and innovation in the shipping sector.
ZIM strike eases as takeover talks with Hapag
Lloyd continue
Operations
at ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd have resumed under a partial strike
arrangement, with employees returning to work on a 50% work-from-home and 50%
office basis. Despite the partial return, negotiations remain ongoing and
tensions persist over labour terms linked to the company’s planned ownership
change.
Port of Long Beach awards contract to improve heavy haul route
OOCL launches new China-Indonesia CIS3 service
OOCL has
announced a new China-Indonesia Service (CIS3), expanding its intra-Asia
network and strengthening connectivity between South China and Indonesia.
The service
will start on 16 May 2026 and offer direct links between major South China
export hubs and key Indonesian Ports, improving transit times and reliability.
IMO Drafts Evacuation
Plan for Ships Stranded in Persian Gulf Amid Ongoing Tensions
The
International Maritime Organization (IMO) is preparing a coordinated evacuation
plan for hundreds of vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf following over seven
weeks of heightened tensions triggered by strikes involving the United States,
Israel, and Iran.
IMO
Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that the evacuation framework is
being readied but will only be implemented once there are clear signs of
de-escalation in the region. He was speaking on the sidelines of Singapore
Maritime Week.
According to
Dominguez, the plan includes prioritising vessel departures based on how long
crews have been stranded, along with other operational considerations. The
objective is to ensure an orderly and safe exit for ships once conditions
permit.
Any
evacuation convoy is expected to follow the established Traffic Separation
Scheme (TSS) in the Strait of Hormuz-a route originally proposed by Iran and
Oman and adopted by the IMO in 1968. In recent weeks, Iran has also introduced
additional routing measures closer to its coastline, in some cases involving
transit payments.
The IMO is
currently in close coordination with regional littoral states including Iran
and Oman, as well as with flag states, to finalise the evacuation blueprint.
The
situation underscores growing concerns over maritime safety and the welfare of
seafarers amid escalating geopolitical instability in one of the world’s most
critical energy corridors.
Fuel Price Surge
Pushes Chittagong Depots to Hike Charges by 8.5%
A surge in
fuel prices has prompted container depots in Chittagong to raise handling
charges by 8.5%, adding fresh cost pressure on Bangladesh’s trade and logistics
sector. Depot operators said the tariff increase was necessary to offset higher
diesel and transport expenses that have significantly increased operating costs
across cargo handling, yard equipment, and inland container movement.
Chittagong,
the country’s main maritime gateway, handles the majority of Bangladesh’s
containerized imports and exports, making depot pricing a key factor for
shippers, freight forwarders, and exporters. Industry stakeholders warn that
the higher handling charges could raise logistics costs for garment exporters,
importers of raw materials, and domestic manufacturers already dealing with
currency pressure and global demand uncertainty.
Traders say
the increase may eventually be passed through the supply chain unless fuel
costs ease or productivity gains help absorb part of the added expense. The
move underscores how energy price volatility continues to affect regional port
and logistics operations.
/// Air Cargo News ///
Air India Awards
Thales 10-Year Deal to Enhance IFE Operations
Air India
has awarded Thales a 10-year contract aimed at enhancing the airline’s inflight
entertainment (IFE) operations through improved logistics support and
maintenance services. The long-term agreement is expected to streamline the
management of IFE equipment across Air India’s fleet, covering areas such as
spare parts supply, system reliability, repairs, upgrades, and lifecycle
support.
The move
comes as the carrier undertakes a major fleet modernisation and customer
experience overhaul. Thales, a leading aviation technology provider, is
expected to help Air India improve content availability, reduce technical
downtime, and ensure smoother onboard entertainment performance for passengers
on domestic and international routes.
Industry
analysts note that reliable IFE systems have become an important component of
airline competitiveness, particularly on long-haul services where passenger
expectations for connectivity and entertainment are high.
The
partnership supports Air India’s broader transformation strategy as it expands
capacity, refreshes its product offering and seeks to position itself as a
leading global airline.
Menzies expands in New Zealand with new
Auckland terminal
Menzies
Aviation has opened a new cargo terminal at Auckland Airport – the first
dedicated airside cargo terminal at the New Zealand airport.
The 32,000
sq m site is secured under a 15‑year agreement and will become New Zealand’s
primary Menzies cargo gateway. It is located within the airport’s Cargo
Precinct and doubles Menzies’ operating footprint.
Menzies said
that it aimed for the facility to be IATA CEIV Pharma certified by the end of
the year and added that it would use software firm Nallian’s Truck Visit
Management (TVM) solution.
“The new
terminal will specialise in handling time and ‑temperature sensitive‑
shipments, including pharmaceuticals and e-commerce freight, while also
supporting general cargo flows and freighter services,” the cargo handler said.
The
investment comes as fresh produce airfreight through Auckland Airport increased
34% year-on-year over the recent summer period, including a 175% surge in
avocado shipments and 2,888 tonnes of cherries exported, up 53% year on year. Menzies
currently serves 18 airline cargo partners at the airport.
Beau Paine,
executive vice president cargo, Menzies Aviation, said: “The facility
relocation and expansion in Auckland was critical for our continued growth in
the Oceania region.
“These new
facilities will elevate the handling experience for our partner airlines and
the freight forwarder market.”
Mark
Thomson, chief commercial officer, Auckland Airport, added: “This development
is expected to deliver significant operational efficiencies as a result of the
dedicated airside road, enabling the fast, efficient and secure movement of
time‑critical cargo between the facility and the aprons.
“The
relocation of Menzies operations to the new cargo precinct is a key step in our
long‑term plan to centralise cargo operations to a dedicated cargo precinct
away from passenger-centric activities.”
Auckland
Airport handles up to 89% of the country’s international airfreight, processing
more than 168,000 tonnes annually.
As New
Zealand’s primary air cargo gateway, developed in partnership with Auckland
Airport, the site features an optimised layout with modern material handling
equipment designed to meet local market expectations and support future growth.
The opening
comes during Auckland Airport’s 60th anniversary year, marking a significant
milestone as the airport continues to evolve its cargo infrastructure for the
future.
Menzies is
not the only company expecting airfreight volumes to and from New Zealand to
increase over the coming years.
Late last
year, Emirates SkyCargo said it was
expecting an increase in demand from
New Zealand thanks to a new trade deal between the country and the UAE.
The
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and New
Zealand began in August last year.
And NZ
Bloom, an exporter of fresh-cut flowers, said that demand for its New
Zealand-grown orchids in Dubai increased by an average of 50% year on year over
the past two seasons and that is expected to increase further following the
implementation of CEPA.
Busy start to the year for Liege
Airport’s cargo business
Liege
Airport has reported a “solid” start to the year for its cargo volumes but has
concerns about how demand levels may progress as a result of the conflict in
the Middle East.
The Belgian
airport saw air cargo volumes increase 15.6% year on year over the first three
months of 2026 to 342,845 tonnes, while aircraft movements were up 7% to 7,247.
In March,
cargo volumes were up 11% and aircraft movements improved by 9%.
Export
volumes in the first quarter of the year increased by 20% year on year, the
airport said, adding that demand improvements were led by e-commerce,
perishables and international logistics flows.
In January
and February, the freight traffic figures particularly
benefited from an increase in the frequency of Emirates SkyCargo freighter
operations through Liege.
However, the
airport had concerns about the outlook over the coming months.
“Despite
these strong results, the international environment remains uncertain and
volatile,” the airport said in a press release.
“Geopolitical
tensions, particularly in the Middle East, continue to directly impact
logistics flows and the balance of the air transport sector.
“The
turbulences are driven by numerous and contradictory factors like the
significant increase in air cargo spot rate, the cost of jet fuel, the
potential energy crisis, the inflation growth, and the restrictions on
airspace.”
The cargo
hub added that current growth levels could “rapidly change” in the future as a
result of rising fuel prices.
“In this
context, Liege Airport is adopting a measured approach for the months ahead,”
said chief executive Laurent Jossart.
“While
outlook remains positive, 2026 is expected to continue to be shaped by rapid
adjustments and demanding market conditions.
“The airport
is therefore approaching the remainder of the year with vigilance, while
maintaining a reasoned confidence in the continuation of its growth momentum.”
Cathay Cargo volumes up in March but
Middle East challenges persist
The Cathay
Group has reported that air cargo volumes remained strong in March, though
payload limitations and the increasing price of jet fuel as a result of the
Middle East conflict has put it under pressure.
Cathay Cargo
carried 11% more cargo in March compared to a year ago, while available freight
tonne kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 2%.
Cathay chief
customer and commercial officer Lavinia Lau said that the airline benefitted
from increased demand for priority shipments as shippers looked to secure cargo
transportation due to Middle East conflict-related shifts in the air cargo
market.
In the first
three months of 2026, the total tonnage increased by 8% compared with the same
period for 2025.
Lau
elaborated: “March marks the traditional quarter-end peak period for cargo.
Tonnage growth was solid across our network, particularly from our home market
of Hong Kong and the wider Greater Bay Area, as well as the rest of the Chinese
Mainland, Southeast Asia and Europe.
“Among our
specialist solutions, Cathay Priority recorded increased tonnage as shippers
sought to secure capacity on our long-haul routes amid ongoing market capacity
adjustments arising from the Middle East situation.
“Meanwhile,
Cathay Expert and Cathay Dangerous Goods also saw a boost from semiconductor
and chemical shipments.”
Operational
challenges persist
Although
Cathay Cargo performed well last month, the situation in the Middle East means
its freighter services to Dubai and Riyadh remain suspended until 31 May and
cargo capacity is constrained.
At the
beginning of this month, Cathay Cargo confirmed it was searching for
mid-point stops on the Asia-Europe trade as five out of
its eight freighter services that had been flying on the Asia-Europe trade via
Dubai are now flying directly, resulting in payload limitation.
Cathay Cargo
director of cargo Dominic Perret said the carrier was “currently reviewing
alternative mid-points with the aim of removing this restriction”.
Meanwhile,
Cathay continues to contend with rising jet fuel prices. Lau said: “In the past
month, we have pursued every suitable means to keep our flights operating as
normal, including the adjustment of fuel surcharges. However, these measures
have not been enough to mitigate the significantly increased fuel costs.”
Cathay has
also temporarily reduced capacity on its passenger flights. Normal scheduled
operations are expected from July, subject to developments in the Middle East
situation and jet fuel price in the coming months.
Lau did not
comment on whether belly cargo was impacted, however she did confirm that
capacity adjustments had affected around 2% of Cathay Pacific’s total
frequencies.
Discussing
the airline’s cargo market expectations for April, Lau stated: “Turning to
April, we anticipate demand on long-haul trunk routes to remain healthy through
the seasonal holidays.
“Market
conditions are expected to remain dynamic and sensitive to the ongoing
developments in the Middle East, and the consequential capacity constraints
across certain trade lanes.”
Middle East war dampens Schiphol’s
March cargo volumes
Air cargo
volumes were down 2.6% in March at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) due to the
ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The Dutch
airport’s traffic figures for last month show it handled 128,281 tonnes of
cargo.
Schiphol’s
cargo division said in a LinkedIn post on 16 April that the decline in volumes
was “mainly due to ongoing geopolitical developments in the Middle East”.
The belly
cargo to freighter split reached 41% / 59%, with full freighters gaining three
percentage points compared to the same month last year.
Further,
inbound/outbound volumes were split 53% / 47%. Schiphol noted that inbound
volumes continued to show strong growth from the Far East, up 8%, Middle/South
America, up 18% and Africa, up 15%. The Middle East showed a decrease of 47%.
On the
outbound side, the Far East was up 10% and Africa grew 8%. Volumes to the US 4%
down and volumes to the Middle East decreased 50%.
The top
commodities in March included electrical machinery, flowers, fashion, fruit
& vegetables, pharmaceuticals, fish and spare parts.
In addition
to air cargo tonnages, Schiphol handled 42,132 tonnes of road feeder service
cargo, accounting for nearly a quarter of total cargo volumes.
Figures from
Airports Council International (ACI) Europe show that last year cargo volumes at
Schiphol declined 4.2% to 1.43m tonnes.
Qatar Airways Cargo restores freighter
network with phased growth
Qatar
Airways Cargo is continuing to restore its freighter network, gradually
increasing operations to and from its hub in Doha. The airline said it is
working to reinstate its full freighter schedule in phases, focusing on key
routes and destinations across its global network.
Flights are
being operated through dedicated air corridors to ensure safe and efficient
movement, while maintaining connectivity across important international
markets.
At the same
time, Qatar Airways Cargo is continuing to operate services across its wider
global network outside Doha, supporting the steady flow of cargo.
The carrier
added that it remains committed to restoring its operations fully while
ensuring reliability and continuity for its customers during this period.
I hope you have
enjoyed reading the above news letter.
Robert Sands
Joint Managing Director
Jupiter Sea & Air Services Pvt Ltd
Casa Blanca, 3rd Floor
11, Casa Major Road, Egmore
Chennai – 600 008. India.
GST Number : 33AAACJ2686E1ZS.
Tel : + 91 44 2819 0171 / 3734 / 4041
Fax : + 91 44 2819 0735
Mobile : + 91 98407 85202
E-mail : robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in
Website : www.jupiterseaair.com 1Branches : Chennai, Bangalore,
Mumbai, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Tuticorin.
Associate Offices : New Delhi, Kolkatta, Cochin &
Hyderabad.
Thanks to : Container News, Indian Seatrade, Cargo Forwarder Global & Air Cargo News.
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