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The container shipping market has taken another sharp turn. What had been shaping as a more subdued freight environment for 2026, driven by excess vessel capacity and tentative hopes of a gradual return to more normal routing patterns, has instead been upended by renewed geopolitical disruption in the Middle East. The latest report shows the impact is no longer limited to isolated diversions or precautionary measures. It is now flowing through freight rates, bunker costs, air cargo capacity, schedule reliability and broader supply chain planning, with carriers once again regaining pricing leverage as effective capacity tightens.

For Australian shippers, the consequences are becoming harder to ignore. Rates into Australia have reversed last month's downward trend, blank sailings have increased, fuel-linked surcharges are spreading, and service reliability remains under pressure across both sea and air freight. At the same time, the report highlights a market that is still functioning, but doing so at higher cost, with less certainty and more volatility. In that environment, the old rule still holds true: when disruption lingers, flexibility, planning and clear-eyed advocacy matter more than ever.

For the full report, please click HERE (also available in a downloadable PDF format)
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FTA / APSA Shipping Report - Edition 24 2026 Sponsored by VICT