Reciprocal tanker attacks escalate near Hormuz

The Global Trade Brief · 10 September 2026

Five minutes to understand what matters in global trade.

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What to Watch

• Maersk’s Mediterranean–US/Canada peak surcharges are scheduled for 7 October.
• Asia-Europe rates as carriers gradually restore Suez Canal services.
• Compagnie Maritime Nantaise expects its wind-assisted logistics roro in service by 2030.

The full day in global trade

Today’s Headlines

• TMEIC launches mobile eRTG charger requiring no yard works
• Ecommerce air cargo growth flattens after 23% rise since 2024
• Maersk adds fifth ship to Mediterranean Sea C service
• US bans selected Canadian dairy, alcohol and motorcycles
• Thailand takes 44.4% of US molded-fiber tableware imports
• Rail operators protect Koper steel raw-material flows
• Suezmax period rates enter six-figure territory
• Schoeller orders four MR tankers for about $180m
• Trade compliance data gaps raise customs filing risk
• RWG finances €500m Rotterdam terminal expansion
• Global container trade volumes hit record in July
• P&I clubs cut premiums to compete for new ships

Today’s Analysis

🏗️ RWG finances a €500m Rotterdam expansion as TMEIC removes civil-work barriers to eRTG charging

Why it matters: The projects expand deep-sea handling capacity and make terminal electrification possible without rebuilding container yards.

• Rotterdam World Gateway secured financing for the final phase of its €500 million Maasvlakte 2 expansion.
• RWG expects annual capacity to rise from approximately 2.6 million TEU to up to 5 million TEU.
• The project includes a fourth deep-sea berth and five new quay cranes.
• RWG will add 11 storage modules with 22 automated stacking cranes and 24 automated guided vehicles.
• The additional capacity is expected to enter commercial operation before 2030.
• TMEIC’s portable E-Tanker can recharge battery-powered RTGs without yard civil works or infrastructure modifications.

📦 Container trade hits a July record while ecommerce air cargo growth stalls

Why it matters: Ocean volumes remain resilient, but weaker ecommerce growth reduces a major source of incremental airfreight demand.

• Global container trade volumes reached a record high in July.
• Seatrade Maritime reported that container trade growth remained strong despite geopolitical and extreme-weather disruption.
• Rotate CEO Ryan Keyrouse said ecommerce air cargo volumes had grown 23% since 2024 but were now flat.
• The comparison presented at the EU CBEC ecommerce forum cited 41% year-over-year ecommerce growth two years earlier.

🚢 Maersk adds a fifth Mediterranean Sea C ship, increasing service frequency without changing port calls

Why it matters: Added vessel capacity improves frequency between eastern and western Mediterranean gateways while preserving the existing port network.

• Maersk added the 2,556 TEU AS Petronia to the Mediterranean Sea C rotation.
• Alphaliner said the vessel joined the service from Barcelona on 24 August.
• The service now operates with five ships on a five-week rotation.
• Calls remain at Mersin, Haifa, Alexandria, Valencia, Barcelona, Casablanca, Algeciras and Tanger Med.
• The other vessels have capacities ranging from 2,246 TEU to 2,546 TEU.

🛂 US restrictions reshape Canadian and molded-fiber sourcing, increasing origin-data exposure

Why it matters: Import bans, duty orders and supplier changes can make outdated classifications or origin records immediately costly at customs.

• A US statement dated 8 September excluded certain Canadian products in response to motor-vehicle trade discrimination.
• The excluded Canadian products include dairy, alcohol and motorcycles.
• US Census data showed China’s share of molded-fiber tableware import value falling from 67.8% in January 2025 to 3.9% in May 2026.
• Thailand’s share rose from 0.7% to 44.4% over the same period.
• Thailand overtook China in June 2025, seven months before US duties took effect on 27 January 2026.
• Trade compliance records can become outdated when changes in materials, suppliers or manufacturing locations do not reach customs teams and brokers.

🚆 RCG and Slovenian Railways coordinate constrained routes to protect voestalpine’s raw-material supply

Why it matters: Infrastructure closures threaten continuous deliveries to steelworks consuming around 40,000 tonnes of raw materials per day.

• Rail Cargo Group and SŽ-Tovorni promet are coordinating capacity, locomotives, crews and alternative routes.
• The operators transported 3.1 million tonnes through Koper in 2025.
• RCG moves around 8.5 million tonnes of raw materials annually for voestalpine.
• Cargo includes iron ore, metallurgical coal and hot-briquetted iron.
• The Ljubljana–Villach route is scheduled to close between Lesce Bled, Jesenice and Rosenbach from 25 September to 12 November.
• Modernisation of the Jesenice border crossing is scheduled to continue until September 2027.

🛢️ Tanker owners add MR capacity as Suezmax rates rise and P&I competition lowers premiums

Why it matters: Higher charter earnings support newbuilding investment, while falling insurance premiums reduce part of the vessel operating-cost burden.

• Suezmax period rates entered six-figure territory amid a buoyant VLCC market.
• Schoeller Holdings ordered four 50,000 dwt MR product tankers from Chengxi Shipyard.
• Newbuilding sources valued each vessel at $45 million.
• The quartet has a combined value of around $180 million.
• The order doubles Schoeller Holdings’ 50,000 dwt series at the CSSC yard.
• International Group P&I clubs are driving premiums down while competing to secure long-term shipowner relationships.

Sources

1. TMEIC launches mobile charging
2. Ecommerce air cargo growth stalls as regulation bites and capacity retreats
3. Maersk increases capacity on its eastern-western Mediterranean service
4. Excluding certain Canadian products from importation into the US
5. Where US molded fiber sourcing actually went, and when
6. RCG and Slovenian Railways secure voestalpine raw-material flows
7. Polemis in pole position as Suezmax tanker period rates enter six-figure territory
8. Schoeller doubles down at Chengxi with $180m MR quartet
9. Why trade compliance needs a rethink of its own
10. Rotterdam World Gateway secures financing for €500 million expansion
11. Container trade volumes hit record high in July
12. International Group P&I clubs fight to sign up new ships