OUR EXPANDING ALLIANCE

FTA / APSA - OUT & ABOUT

Great to see the enthusiasm and engagement from almost 300 students at the Maritime Careers Open Day 2026, hosted by Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd and exceptionally organised by Michaela Moss. Tom Jensen was proud to represent, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), alongside industry stakeholders, promoting the enormous career opportunities available in freight forwarding, customs broking and the broader international logistics sector.

Hopefully we met a few future customs brokers and freight forwarders  — because the industry certainly needs them.

Despite the challenges, it's always encouraging to hear how businesses are adapting, investing and continuing to look for smarter ways to support customers and supply chains.

FTA / APSA - TRAINING

Effective this year, the CBC activity includes both the learning and assessment component, which will only be delivered through the department's education and training platform, Learnhub.

All accredited persons must complete the CBC activity by Thursday, 23 July 2026.

Further details are available HERE

FTA / APSA - IN THE MEDIA

Understanding the Australia–EU FTA: What Customs Brokers and Forwarders Need to Know

Join us for a webinar presented by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), providing a practical overview of the goods market access outcomes under AEUFTA — including tariff elimination, tariff rate quotas and what these changes mean in real terms for trade with the European Union.

FTA/APSA Global Shipping Insights

Join us as we break down the latest FTA/APSA Shipping Report - May 2026

Australian Sanctions Laws – Compliance, Risk and Resilience

Join us for an exclusive webinar presented by the Australian Sanctions Office (ASO), providing a practical overview of Australia's sanctions framework and its direct impact on customs brokers, freight forwarders and logistics service providers operating at the frontline of international trade.

FTA / APSA - UPCOMING EVENTS

2026 AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING & LOGISTICS CONFERENCE

2026 CARE-FACTOR INDUSTRY CHARITY TRADE BALL 

LOGISTICS

ABF have advised of two (2) outages over two weekends in June that will impact the Integrated Cargo System. 

Industry should make themselves aware oif the dates and take necessary steps to avoid delays over those times. READ MORE

Fremantle Ports - Upcoming Roadworks

Fremantle Ports have advised the Freight & Trade Alliance of a series of upcoming roadworks that may impact transport operations to / from the port over the coming weeks READ MORE

New Kwinana freight rail corridor considered

STATE planners in Western Australia are considering a proposal to reserve land for a future freight rail corridor in Kwinana.

The proposal, which is not a part of the new proposed Westport container terminal, sits within the South Metropolitan Peel Sub-regional Planning Framework, the same strategic environment as Westport.

Both processes examine long-term freight capacity in the Kwinana industrial area.
READ MORE (story credit DCN)

Voluntary Port Performance Framework Quarterly Dashboard

Freight Victoria, in the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), has released the 2026 quarterly dashboard under the Voluntary Port Performance Model (VPPM).

Industry stakeholders can view the dashboard by visiting the Voluntary Performance Monitoring Framework (VPMF) webpage.

The dashboard includes data from the three stevedores and other stakeholders, updated quarterly, with monthly performance data, to enhance the transparency of land-side port operations.
READ MORE

Notices:

SEA FREIGHT

Please find below correspondence advising of Fremantle Ports' Ship and Cargo Charges from 1 July 2026, including the applicable schedule of charges.  
These changes will take effect from 1 July 2026, and can also be found on our website Trade & Business - Fremantle Ports
 
If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Service team at customer@fremantleports.com.au

Letter Fremantle Ports on Ship and Cargo Charges
Ship & Cargo Charges List

China rates back on the march in June

MEAN spot rates between China and Australia have now risen a cumulative 68% since the middle of March, according to the latest SCFI for Shanghai-Sydney.

The level rose another 9% in quotes for this week, Week 21, to USD 2,634/FEU. In Week 13 the rate was USD 1,242/FEU and has risen in increments varying from 3% to 19% since, with a particular bounce in Week17.

DCN has detected no further voyage blankings in this trade but commentary shared with us suggests carriers are increasingly engaging in port-skipping, ostensibly to catch up with schedules and ensure timely arrival at destination ports. READ MORE (story credit DCN)

PART X Competition & Consumer Act

Maersk to launch express China service

IN AN already crowded market Maersk Line will introduce a speedy, limited rotation China-Australia service in late July, just in time for traditional peak import season. The service, designated Qilin, will reportedly operate with 2,800-3,500 TEU ships on the very simple rotation of Shanghai, Port Botany, Melbourne, Shanghai with the first voyage departing 24 July.

DCN understands that while Qilin will complement Maersk's existing weekly Dragon North & East Asia-Australia, shared with Ocean Network Express, all space on the new service will be marketed by Maersk. READ MORE (story credit DCN)

Notices:

AIR FREIGHT

Changi goes for growth with infrastructure rollout

Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) is in the process of a major infrastructure project to increase its air cargo handling capacity, while growing its carrier portfolio and investing in digitalisation.

The airport is on a mission to grow its cargo capacity to 5.4m tonnes as air cargo demand soars out of Southeast Asia.

To enable this goal, the airport is remodelling its existing cargo facilities and building new ones, says Jaisey Yip, vice president, cargo business division at Changi Airport Group (CAG).
READ MORE (story credit Air Cargo News)

Please refer the Qantas Freight website for updates on operational matters. 

Notices:

BIOSECURITY

Please click  HERE   the DAFF Biosecurity Report -  sponsored by The Compliant Group

TRADE

FTA have added the Xe exchange rate widget to the right sidebar on our FTAlliance.com.au home page, so members can easily convert using live rates provided by our affiliate partner in Xe.

It also has a link to the Xe/FTA landing page for members to create a free account with Xe.

Trade Data Updates Week Ending 26th May 2026

National ports, the Australian Bureau of statistics and data from other sources  

LOGIN REQUIRED

Notices:

Anti-Dumping Notices Data Updates Week Ending 26th May 2026

FTA has compiled a list of Anti-Dumping Notices from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources 

BORDER

MAST charges alleged facilitator of trusted insider network linked to drug import plots in Sydney

A Sydney man, alleged to be the coordinator of a network of trusted insiders inside Australia's cargo ports, has been charged by the Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST) in relation to multiple plots to import up to one tonne of illicit drugs over an eight-month period. 

The MAST – made up of investigators from the AFP and NSW Police Force (NSWPF) – works directly with law enforcement partners from the Australian Border Force (ABF), NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and Australian Taxation Office (ATO), to target trusted insiders.
READ MORE (story credit AFP newsroom) 

Notices:

WEBINARS & RECORDINGS

Stay at the cutting edge through participation in live webinars and access to recordings – all are FREE & EXCLUSIVE to Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) members.     LOGIN REQUIRED

Operational Support
For the timeliest response from our team, FTA / APSA members are reminded to send requests for operational support to support@FTAlliance.com.au

Training, Finance & Events Enquiries
For the timeliest response from our team, FTA / APSA members are reminded to send training, finance, events and general administration enquiries to Training@FTAlliance.com.au

To select your communication preferences please click on "Update Subscription Preferences" at the bottom of any FTA notice -  READ MORE

SPONSORS

FTA and APSA are proud to connect members with the following sponsors as leading suppliers of services to the freight and trade sectors.

Sponsorship prospectus is available HERE