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The global container shipping industry is showing unprecedented levels of fleet utilization, with commercial idle capacity dropping to a remarkable low of just 0.6%. Only 70 vessels accounting for 185,157 TEUs remain commercially idle. 

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China’s inventory of new containers climbed to a record high 1.55m TEUs in May ‘25. Container shortages were a widespread problem during the covid-19 pandemic and the first USA/China trade tensions in 2018-19, but not anymore. 

Data source: LinerLytica, via Splash247.  

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The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) continues to push forward with its plan to launch port fees on Chinese-built ships later this year. The USTR opened a public comment period regarding proposed modifications to its Section 301 trade actions against China’s maritime sector. Stakeholders have until July 7, 2025, to submit their comments.  

Key modifications under consideration: 

• Changing its fee basis from car equivalent units to net tonnage-based fees under Annex III to help prevent fee evasion and apply special coverage provisions for vessels under the Maritime Security Program.
• Eliminating provisions that previously allowed the suspension of LNG export licenses, retroactive to April 17, and seeking feedback on data requirements from vessel owners or operators.  

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The Trump Administration raised Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs to 50% (previously 25%), except for the UK, which remains at 25% through July 9th.

The change took effect at 12:01 a.m. Washington D.C. time on Wednesday, June 4th.

Executive Order

Senior rail managers from China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Turkey met in Tehran to collaboratively develop China-Europe container traffic strategies. Increased demand on this route has already been demonstrated, particularly between China and Iran via Kazakhstan, which was 2.6 times greater between January and April 2025 than during the same period in 2024.  

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Latin America’s logistics market reached $360b in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6% through 2030. Latin American airfreight carriers are adding cargo capacity as they anticipate healthy demand in a market that appears safe from tariff disruption:  

• Avianca is taking delivery of two Airbus A330 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) aircraft, bringing its cargo fleet to nine aircraft.  

• LATAM is waiting for the arrival of its last converted Boeing 767 freighter.  

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The European Union adopted its 17th sanctions package against Russia, its most comprehensive effort yet. Notably, these restrictions come without a corresponding package from the U.S.   

• The latest iteration adds 189 shadow fleet vessels, so the total number of EU-sanctioned ships now stands at 342, a rapid increase since the end of 2024, when the list was only 79 vessels.  

• The EU blocked 58 new companies and 17 individuals, taking the totals to 600 and 1,944, respectively.  

Related Initiatives

• The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) will strengthen its ship-to-ship (STS) oil transfer operation requirements for tankers flying the Panamanian flag in an effort to halt sanctioned tankers from passing through its waters. 

• The Swedish government is tightening control of foreign ships by requiring them to provide insurance information. The new measures, which are set to take effect on July 1st, 2025, will authorize the Swedish Coast Guard and the Swedish Maritime Administration to collect insurance data not only from vessels calling at a port in Sweden but also from those passing through the country’s territorial waters. 

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