As shipping companies failed to raise prices ahead of a series of GRIs on December 1, container spot rates on major routes once again experienced a moderate decline, with the largest decline on the US-West route.

The British-flagged Anglo Marie Louise, a bulk carrier, exploded about 150 nautical miles off the coast of North Carolina.

The Houthis in Yemen have announced a special military operation, attacking a US destroyer and three US military supply ships with missiles and drones in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.

Intermodal transportation and logistics services provider Schneider has acquired North American logistics giant Cowan for $390 million, with a separate agreement to acquire Cowan's real estate assets valued at $31 million.

Lufthansa Cargo has signed an agreement with Maersk to promote the decarbonization of air cargo through the use of sustainable aviation fuel SAF, which is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 1,200 metric tons.

The General Freight Rate increase (GRI) follows another week of modest declines in container spot rates on all major routes.

In the first 10 months, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Port Area Haitong Port exported 1.077 million vehicles, an increase of 28.8% over the same period last year, and exported more than one million vehicles two months earlier than last year.

Several Danish shipping companies, including Maersk, and the Danish Shipping Employers Association have confirmed receiving threatening emails from the Houthis in Yemen.

By the end of 2026, there will be a shortage of 90,000 trained crew members worldwide, a problem that not only exacerbates the risk of crew overwork and shipwreck, but also keeps freight rates high.

The Western front is not expected to stop falling until late December, with the rise mainly driven by the strong performance of the European and Mediterranean lines.