Mediterranean Shipping MSC has announced the launch of its 2025 route network and has begun accepting cargo bookings.

A sharp 21.6% increase in freight rates on the US-West route, tensions in Sino-US trade relations, a surge in demand ahead of the Lunar New Year, and the risk of port strikes will all have an impact on freight rates.

The leadership of India's six main dockworkers' unions has threatened to shut down from December 17, lifting the threat of a general strike at Indian ports with the final approval of a new five-year Labour agreement.

Trump supports the longshoremen's union, and if the two sides fail to reach an agreement on port automation by Jan. 15, 2025, the U.S. East and Gulf ports risk a full-scale strike.

Hapag-Lloyd has announced that it will terminate its China-Germany Express (CGX) service in February 2025 to free up resources to support the official operation of the Gemini alliance formed jointly with Maersk.

Maersk said there was strong demand for North American import trade in 2024 and this momentum will continue into 2025, especially in the maritime and air cargo sectors.

Hapag-lloyd opened its new office in Kampala, Uganda's capital city, also because of the country's geographical location and good connections with five neighboring countries in East and Central Africa.

As of January 1, the Panama Canal Authority (CMA) will revise its transit reservation system, including changing the tariff structure and amount of charges, and introducing new tariffs.

USTR increased tariffs on certain tungsten products, wafers and polysilicon imported from China, and the tax rate on solar wafers and polysilicon will increase to 50%, effective January 1, 2025.

MSC has announced the addition of a direct route to Adelaide to its KOALA route service, which connects China, Indonesia and Australia.