JUPITER SEA & AIR
SERVICES PVT. LTD, EGMORE – CHENNAI, INDIA.
E-MAIL : Robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in Mobile : +91 98407 85202
Corporate News Letter for Friday July 31, 2026
Today’s
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/// Sea Cargo News ///
Containership
orderbook reaches record 11.93 million TEU
The global containership industry continued to invest aggressively in new capacity during 2025 despite persistent concerns over future overcapacity, with shipowners placing record orders while demolition activity fell to its lowest level ever recorded.
According to the latest DynaLiners Trades
Review 2026, the figures highlight an industry that remains committed to
long-term fleet renewal even as market fundamentals remain closely watched.
By the end of 2025, the global containership
orderbook had reached 11.93 million TEU, equivalent to 35%
of the active fleet, while the global fleet expanded to 33.688
million TEU across 7,497 vessels. At the same time, ship
recycling virtually disappeared, underlining the continued demand for vessel
capacity despite the significant volume of new tonnage entering the market.
While the figures highlight another year of significant fleet expansion, they also illustrate the delicate balance between continued investment and the market’s ability to absorb additional capacity.
Fleet expansion remains historically strong
Despite moderating from the exceptional
growth recorded in 2024, 2025 still ranked among the strongest years on record
for containership capacity.
The global fleet expanded by 2.232
million TEU, marking the second-largest annual capacity increase ever
recorded. A net 306 vessels joined the fleet, while the
average containership grew to 4,490 TEU, continuing the long-term
trend towards larger and more efficient vessels.
Deliveries also remained exceptionally
strong. During the year, 254 newly built containerships entered
service, adding 2.181 million TEU of capacity. The average
size of each delivered vessel reached a record 8,600 TEU,
reflecting carriers’ preference for larger ships capable of delivering greater
economies of scale while supporting fleet modernisation and environmental
compliance.
Record ordering continues
Ordering activity proved even more remarkable
than deliveries.
Shipowners contracted 561
containerships during 2025, representing 4.772 million TEU of
future capacity and surpassing the previous annual ordering record set in 2021.
By the end of the year, the global orderbook stood at 1,134 vessels with
a combined capacity of 11.93 million TEU, equivalent to 35%
of the active fleet.
Beyond fleet expansion, much of today’s
ordering activity reflects the industry’s ongoing renewal cycle. Carriers are
increasingly replacing older tonnage with larger, more fuel-efficient vessels
designed to comply with stricter environmental regulations while improving
operational efficiency.
Recycling falls to a historic low
At the opposite end of the market, ship
recycling almost came to a standstill.
Only 14 containerships,
representing 10,100 TEU, were sold for demolition during 2025,
making it the lowest annual recycling volume ever recorded in capacity terms.
Even older vessels remained commercially viable as operators continued to
require additional capacity across global trade lanes.
The exceptionally low recycling activity
reflects continued demand for vessel capacity, supported by longer sailing
distances, shifting trade patterns and ongoing supply chain disruptions.
Operational conditions continue to support
utilisation
Under normal market conditions, such rapid
fleet expansion would be expected to place significant pressure on vessel
utilisation.
Instead, the average laid-up fleet remained
exceptionally low throughout 2025 at just 0.7% of global
capacity, equivalent to approximately 216,000 TEU across 77
vessels.
One of the key factors has been the continued
rerouting of services around the Cape of Good Hope due to security concerns in
the Red Sea. Longer voyage distances have effectively absorbed additional
vessel capacity, while network adjustments, periodic port congestion and
resilient cargo demand across several major trade lanes have further supported
utilisation.
Although these conditions have helped
maintain market balance, they may not prove permanent. Any broad return to
shorter routings could increase effective fleet capacity and place greater
pressure on supply-demand fundamentals.
Industry milestones
Several deliveries during the year also
reflected broader developments across the liner industry.
MSC surpassed 7 million TEU of
operated capacity following the delivery of MSC Salerno. CMA CGM
introduced CMA
CGM Iron, its first methanol dual-fuel containership,
while Ocean Network Express welcomed ONE
Sparkle, the first containership owned directly by
the carrier rather than one of its shareholder companies.
Market outlook
The figures presented in DynaLiners
Trades Review 2026 portray an industry that continues to invest with
confidence despite ongoing uncertainty.
The current operating environment remains
supportive of high vessel utilisation, helping to absorb significant amounts of
new capacity. However, with an orderbook equal to more than one-third of the
active fleet and recycling at historic lows, the industry’s ability to maintain
supply-demand balance will increasingly depend on cargo growth, continued fleet
renewal and the eventual normalisation of major shipping routes.
For now, the numbers point to a sector that
remains confident enough to continue investing despite persistent uncertainty.
Whether the record orderbook ultimately proves to be a sign of long-term
confidence or the foundation of the next overcapacity cycle will largely depend
on the evolution of global trade, fleet renewal and the timing of a broader
return to shorter shipping routes.
Panama
Canal highlights preventive maintenance strategy to boost reliability
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) says preventive maintenance remains essential to keeping the waterway safe, reliable and efficient.
The authority follows a long-term maintenance
programme. It focuses on preserving, modernising and extending the life of
critical infrastructure. The goal is to prevent failures before they occur.
The programme covers the canal’s locks,
gates, valves, hydraulic systems, electrical equipment, navigation channels,
dams, tugboats and support facilities. The ACP says regular maintenance reduces
operational risks and ensures uninterrupted service.
The locks remain the main priority.
Maintenance includes dry-chamber work, gate overhauls, valve rehabilitation,
corrosion protection and the replacement of structural and electromechanical
components. Continuous inspections help identify issues before they affect
operations.
A recent project took place at the Pedro
Miguel Locks in May. The ACP spent more than six months planning the work.
Around 300 workers completed the dry-chamber maintenance in just five days
while vessel transits continued through the remaining lane.
The maintenance programme also includes
dredging, sediment control, electrical system inspections, and the upkeep of
dams, spillways, tugboats and other support equipment.
The ACP is also using maintenance projects to
prepare for future shipping requirements.
One ongoing project involves replacing
floating fenders at the Neopanamax Locks. The work will help assess whether the
canal can safely accommodate vessels with a beam of up to 53 metres, compared
with the current limit of 51.25 metres.
The authority said continuous investment has
already expanded the canal’s capabilities. Since the Neopanamax locks opened,
the waterway has grown from handling container ships of around 12,000 TEUs to
vessels carrying more than 17,000 TEUs.
Ilya Espino de Marotta, Deputy Administrator
of the Panama Canal, said the ACP will continue investing in innovation to
ensure the canal meets the future needs of global shipping.
US
container imports from Asia rise 14.9% in June as Vietnam continues strong
growth
US container imports from 10 major Asian economies increased 14.9% year-on-year in June, reaching 1.77 million TEUs, according to Descartes Datamyne statistics based on US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data.
Compared with May, imports from Asia rose 1%.
Overall, US container imports reached 2.43
million TEUs in June, representing a 9.6% increase compared with the same month
last year.
During the first six months of 2026, the
United States imported 10.06 million TEUs from the 10 Asian countries and
regions, up 2.1% year-on-year. Total US container imports reached 13.92 million
TEUs, an increase of 0.3%.
China remained the largest source of US
imports, accounting for 5.08 million TEUs during the first half of the year.
However, volumes declined 1.3% compared with the same period in 2025.
Vietnam continued its rapid expansion, with
exports to the United States reaching 1.53 million TEUs, a 25.1% year-on-year
increase.
Imports from Thailand also recorded strong
growth, rising 26.2% to 437,042 TEUs.
Meanwhile, imports from South Korea fell 5.2%
to 1.16 million TEUs, while shipments from India declined 8.4% to 422,303 TEUs.
The latest figures highlight the continued
diversification of US sourcing across Asia, with Southeast Asian exporters
gaining market share as imports from China continue to soften.
Maersk
revises emergency contingency surcharges from Oman and UAE hubs
Maersk has announced revised Emergency Contingency Surcharge (ECS) levels for exports from Salalah (Oman), Sohar (Oman), Fujairah (UAE) and Khor Fakkan (UAE) to a range of international destinations.
The revised surcharges will take effect from
1 August 2026 based on the Price Calculation Date (PCD) for non-FMC trades. For
FMC-regulated countries, including the United States, American Samoa, Puerto
Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Taiwan and Colombia, a 30-day notice
period will apply, while Vietnam will be subject to a 15-day notice period.
The updated ECS applies to shipments from the
Gulf hubs to several key trade lanes, including North Europe, the
Mediterranean, West Coast South America, the Caribbean, Central America, East
Coast South America and South Africa.
Maersk’s revised tariff differentiates
between cargo originating from Sohar, Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, and cargo
shipped from Salalah, with the latter generally attracting lower surcharge
levels. Depending on the destination, container type and equipment, the updated
ECS ranges from US$2,800 per 20-foot dry container to US$7,700 per 20-foot
reefer container.
The carrier said the revised surcharge
schedule will remain subject to applicable regulatory notice periods and
standard tariff conditions.
ONE
updates customers on Egypt’s mandatory UCR requirement
Ocean Network Express (ONE) has informed customers that new customs requirements for export shipments from Egypt took effect on 18 July 2026.
Under the rules introduced by the Egyptian
Customs Authority, all export shipments originating from Egypt and moving
through an Egyptian port must include a valid Unique Consignment Reference
(UCR) number issued through the Nafeza single-window platform.
Exporters must also provide a valid
nine-digit Exporter Tax ID when submitting booking requests. ONE said bookings
submitted without both the UCR number and the Exporter Tax ID cannot be
accepted.
The carrier is required to collect and
validate both details through Nafeza. Based on the validation result, the
platform will confirm whether the booking can be approved and whether the cargo
can be loaded.
ONE noted that some bookings may be rejected,
while confirmed bookings may later be prevented from loading following
instructions from Egyptian Customs. Any update or modification to a submitted
UCR will also result in the immediate cancellation of the booking.
Customers submitting bookings through EDI
platforms such as INTTRA or CargoWise should include the UCR number and
Exporter Tax ID in the remarks section until the platforms are updated to
support the new mandatory fields.
Maersk
revises peak season surcharge for North Europe–US trade
Maersk will revise its Peak Season Surcharge
(PSS) for shipments from North Europe to the United States in response to
continued strengthening market demand.
The revised surcharge will take effect from
19 August 2026 and will remain in place until further notice. It applies to all
container types, including dry, reefer and special equipment.
The carrier has set the surcharge at US$1,000
per container for cargo moving from North European origins, including Belgium,
Germany, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, the Baltic states, Poland,
Ireland, the United Kingdom, France (Le Havre) and several other regional
origins, to destinations across the United States.
Maersk said the surcharge will apply to
non-spot bookings based on the applicable Price Calculation Date (PCD), while
spot bookings are excluded from the PSS.
The carrier added that the measure is
intended to support reliable service levels during the peak shipping season and
will remain subject to its standard contractual and regulatory conditions.
CMA CGM
introduces emergency fuel surcharge amid renewed Hormuz tensions
CMA CGM has announced the introduction of an Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) following the renewed escalation of hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz, which the carrier said has driven a sharp increase in global fuel prices.
The French shipping line noted that bunker
costs have risen significantly across all regions and trades, reversing the
easing observed in recent weeks and increasing the overall cost of ocean
transportation.
Effective from 1 August 2026, based on the
loading date and subject to applicable regulatory filings, the new EFS will
apply as follows:
·
All long-haul headhaul trades:
o
US$150 per TEU (dry)
o
US$165 per TEU (reefer)
o
€130 per TEU (dry)
o
€145 per TEU (reefer)
·
All long-haul backhaul trades:
o
US$75 per TEU (dry)
o
US$90 per TEU (reefer)
o
€65 per TEU (dry)
o
€80 per TEU (reefer)
·
All intra-regional trades:
o
US$75 per TEU (dry)
o
US$90 per TEU (reefer)
o
€65 per TEU (dry)
o
€80 per TEU (reefer)
CMA CGM said the surcharge will remain in
effect until further notice, adding that the measure is intended to support
reliable and sustainable services during the current period of exceptional
volatility in fuel markets.
/// Air Cargo News ///
Morocco’s Open Skies policy gives cargo
a push
Morocco
has quietly built one of Africa’s most effective aviation assets: an open-skies
framework with Europe that has turned Casablanca into a genuine cargo gateway.
Most of the conversation around African aviation focuses on passengers. But the
cargo story is where Morocco’s strategic advantage really shines.
Casablanca’s
rise as a cargo hub
Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) has become the primary air freight hub
for North and West Africa. This didn’t happen by accident; the ingredients are
straightforward:
·
Geography
– sitting at the narrowest point between Africa and Europe
·
Infrastructure
– dedicated freight terminals and cold chain facilities
·
Liberalized
traffic rights – thanks to the EU–Morocco aviation agreement
·
Royal
Air Maroc Cargo – a carrier that has grown with the opportunity
The
result? A hub that serves Morocco’s domestic economy and the broader West
African market – moving goods from Dakar to Dubai, from Lagos to London,
through a single efficient transit point.
Open
Skies delivers predictable market access to cargo players. Liberalized airspace
replaces ad hoc permits with stable rules. For cargo operators, that means
predictable scheduling and the ability to build long-term logistics
partnerships.
Seamless
Africa–Europe connectivity avoids detours via other hubs such as in the Middle
East. Today, there is no more need to route shipments through non-African hubs.
Hence, particularly time-sensitive goods – fresh produce, pharmaceuticals,
high-value electronics – move faster and at lower cost.
Cold
chain logistics
Africa’s agricultural export sector depends on reliable air freight. Morocco’s
gateway status has made it a critical node for moving perishable goods to
European supermarkets. This also applies to e-commerce, which is growing
constantly. Cross-border e-commerce needs fast, reliable air cargo services.
Morocco’s framework positions Casablanca as a natural sorting and
redistribution hub for the entire macroeconomic region.
RAM
Cargo: The carrier that makes it work
Royal Air Maroc Cargo has been the primary driver of Morocco’s cargo strategy –
and is its main beneficiary. The airline has:
·
Expanded
its freighter fleet to meet growing Africa > < Europe demand
·
Built
dedicated cargo routes to key West African markets
·
Formed
partnerships with European and Middle Eastern carriers for seamless
interline
connectivity
·
Invested
in ground handling at Casablanca to support perishable, e-commerce, and high
value cargo throughput, including the transfer and distribution of the goods to
final destinations.
This
alignment between the national carrier and Moroccan aviation policy is a model
other African nations could learn from.
The
Bigger Question for Africa
Morocco’s success raises a structural question: If liberalized airspace with
Europe has delivered such clear cargo benefits, why is the full implementation
of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) for intra-African cargo
still lagging?
The
answer is not technical capacity, it’s political will – and the willingness to
move beyond bilateral control for continental gain. African Continental Free
Trade Area‘s vision (AfCFTA) of seamless intra-African trade will remain
incomplete without an integrated air cargo framework to match. Morocco’s
experience proves three things:
1. Liberalized skies
drive cargo volume
2. Cargo volume drives
infrastructure investment
3. Infrastructure
investment drives economic integration
For
cargo operators, financiers, and logistics providers, the message is clear: the
routes exist, the demand is growing, and the regulatory frameworks are
available. What remains is the decision to implement this opportunity and
vision on a larger scale.
Bottom
Line
Morocco’s open skies framework is not just a passenger aviation success story.
It’s primarily a cargo gateway strategy that has made Casablanca one of the
most important freight hubs connecting Africa to Europe and vice versa.
As
the continent moves toward deeper integration under SAATM and AfCFTA, Morocco’s
model offers a practical blueprint for what liberalized air cargo markets can
deliver. The opportunity is now. The infrastructure is ready. The next move
belongs to the policymakers and cargo operators who will build the next
generation of African air freight networks.
UPDATE
Royal Air Maroc enlarges European network
The
Moroccan national carrier is adding four European destination to its current
summer schedule. These areBilbao, Alicante, Verona and Lille. They will be
served with Boeing 737 aircraft, offering up to 3 tons of cargo capacity in the
lower deck compartments of the passenger jetliners per flight. The new services
feed seamlessly into Royal Air Maroc’s long-haul widebody and freighter network
out of its Casablanca hub.
The
new routes strengthen the carrier’s role as a North–South logistics bridge
between Europe and Africa and are in line with its goal of scaling toward a
global hub model, combining regional narrow-body connectivity with
intercontinental widebody and freighter operations.
“As
a key strategic gateway into Africa, our focus at Royal Air Maroc is on
connecting high-potential regional markets in Europe, that can generate
consistent point-to-point demand and feed cargo flows through Casablanca to
destinations across Africa and other international markets in the Americas and
Asia,” Rita
Chraibi, Vice-President Cargo, Royal Air Maroc, explains. HS
Author:
Bernard Omboto Onguso
Bernard
is the author of the Fueling African Aviation series, a two-volume (with a
third volume due end 2026) practitioner guides to aviation fuel markets, first
of a kind guides in infrastructure development, and continental integration,
endorsed by aireg for use in European institutions and frontier markets. He
presented on the Global SAF Perspective Panel at ILA Berlin 2026 and has worked
across African aviation markets for over three decades.
Freighter capacity and air cargo
volumes to Europe drop
Freighter
capacity into Europe has been dropping since the EU introduced a €3 customs
duty on low-value parcels imported from outside the EU.
This
is according to Aevean, whose latest data shows daily average freighter
capacity from Asia Pacific and Middle East & South Asia into Europe fell
14% in July versus June. This is the the equivalent of 18 fewer widebody
freighter flights every day.
The
EU introduced its temporary customs duty, which impacts e-commerce trade, on 1
July. The customs duty charge is per item on parcels valued below €150. A
separate €2 handling fee per consignment is expected from 1 November 2026. This
is intended to bridge the gap until the EU Customs Data Hub is launched in
2028.
Some
EU member states are also already introducing their own local fees and
requirements in parallel with the EU-wide reform.
“Freighter
capacity into Europe is thinning out this summer, with the EU €3 customs duty
for low-value parcels as key driver,” said Aevean.
Airports
that handle significant e-commerce volumes reflected this, pointed out the
aviation consulting company. Freighter capacity was down 46% at Budapest, 33%
at Madrid, 24% at Milan and 16% at Liège.
Frankfurt
and Schiphol fared slightly better with 11-12% declines, while Paris-Charles de
Gaulle was up 9%, the only top 10 airport to add capacity.
At the beginning of the month, data from Rotate also showed freighter capacity between China and Hong Kong and the European Union declined following the introduction of the EU fee.
Elsewhere,
WorldACD Market Data figures confirmed that air cargo tonnages from Hong Kong
to Europe were down by more than 20% by mid-July compared with their levels
this time last year and in early June.
Chargeable
weight from Hong Kong to Europe fell by another 5% in week 29 (13 to 19 July),
the fifth consecutive week-on-week (WoW) decline.
That
meant Hong Kong to Europe volumes were down by almost one quarter (24%)
compared with the equivalent week last year. And averaged across weeks 26 to
29, tonnages were down by 18%, year on year, based on the more than 500,000
weekly transactions covered by WorldACD’s data.
Traffic
from mainland China fell by a further 2%, week on week, in week 29, after
dropping 9% the previous week, taking tonnages from China to Europe down 10%,
year on year.
Averaged
across weeks 26 to 29, volumes from China to Europe were down by 8% year on
year. Combined tonnages for China and Hong Kong to Europe across those four
weeks were down 11% year on year, whereas the remainder of the global market
recorded 5% year on year growth in the same period.
Like
Aevean, WorldACD said there was a clear correlation between the decline in air
cargo volumes and the EU customs duty.
“The
steep drop in tonnages from China to Europe during that time, particularly from
Hong Kong, is linked to the introduction in the European Union (EU) from 1 July
of new import rules involving the removal of the previous ‘de minimis’
exemption on items valued below €150, introducing a fixed fee of €3 per item
plus new customs reporting requirements,” said the data company.
“Traffic
from Hong Kong has been most affected by the new rule changes because in recent
years it has contained a very high percentage of e-commerce volumes.”
WorldACD
further said that volumes to Europe from some other significant origin
countries in Asia Pacific have also seen substantial declines in the three
weeks since the implementation of the new EU rules, with tonnages from Vietnam
and Thailand down, YoY, by 9% and 11%, respectively, in week 29.
Overall
chargeable weight from Asia Pacific to Europe was down by 13% year on year, in
both weeks 28 and 29 – mainly driven by the declines from China and Hong Kong.
DHL reveals first Mammoth 777-200
freighter conversion and confirms 13 aircraft ordered
DHL
has has unveiled its first 777-200 converted freighter from Mammoth Freighters
and confirmed its order for 13 of the type in total.
The
777-200LRMF (Long Range Mammoth Freighter) has been on display at the UK’s
Farnborough International Airshow this week, and DHL said four of the 13
aircraft are planned to enter service this year.
These
777-200LRMFs will join DHL Express’ global air network as part of long-term
fleet modernisation plans. The first aircraft has been placed with DHL Air UK.
The
aircraft displayed at Farnborough was converted in Manchester and the
modification work included the installation of a large main-deck cargo door and
advanced cargo handling systems. However, the original airframes and engines
were retained.
Tom
Mackle, managing director, DHL Air (UK), said: “Being one of the first
customers and first operator of the Boeing 777-200LR Mammoth Freighter
conversion aircraft provides our customers with enhanced delivery capability.
“The
aircraft, placed with our UK airline, adds to our already tremendous
operational reputation and technical expertise. It is a significant enhancement
to our long-haul network capability.
“The
investment in people and growth in infrastructure reinforces our commitment to
operating a modern, flexible fleet that delivers a highly reliable service and
advances our broader sustainability ambitions.
“We
are pleased to be working alongside Mammoth Freighters and partners as we move
towards service introduction within the DHL Express network.”
Mammoth
Freighters received Supplemental Type
Certification (STC) from
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its 777-200LRMF in April.
The
certification paved the way for Mammoth to begin aircraft deliveries to launch
customer Qatar Airways Cargo, which has an agreement for five of the aircraft
with Texas-based lessor, Jetran.
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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