On January 11-12, Danish carrier Maersk successfully transited the Red Sea with its US-flagged vessel Maersk Denver as part of its ongoing steps toward reinstating Suez Canal routes. CMA CGM's earlier returns are welcomed by the Suez Canal Authority; however, full traffic recovery may remain uncertain given ongoing security concerns.
Container shipping markets opened 2026 with significantly higher spot rates from East Asia to US East Coast, even as US container imports ended 2025 slightly below 2024. Early January updates from major carriers show service adjustments and limited idling of container ships as they create tight yet reshaping capacity landscape.
PSA International's Mersin terminal in Turkey welcomed its inaugural mega-boxship, MSC Ditte, demonstrating their capability for large vessels. PSA's partnerships with GCMD on decarbonisation projects and acquisitions in Vietnam demonstrate its focus on sustainable maritime operations and regional growth.
Mediterranean Shipping Company implemented several freight rate increases on key routes between Far East, Europe, Africa and beyond since December 2025, taking effect December 1. These updates included service enhancements such as faster transit times on Western Cape Express and new port calls; as well as surcharges due to high demand and regulations. These moves reflect market pressures as well as operational adjustments.
Hapag-Lloyd took home gold at Hellmann's 2025 Carrier of the Year Awards on December 5. Additionally, eight dual fuel methanol container ships were ordered as well as an announcement regarding Hanseatic Global Terminal's greenfield terminal investment in Brazil via Hanseatic Global Terminals as proof of their sustainability and expansion goals for an eventful year.
HII advances distributed shipbuilding by opening new facilities and partners to meet US Navy demands, while investing $448 million in AI-driven Ship OS for efficiency gains. Hanwha Philly Shipyard readies for next-generation frigates following President Trumps endorsement; global newbuilds showcase green tech as well as market shifts for chemical tankers, car carriers and ferries which signals a return of US maritime industrial capacity.
Container carriers remain "firm" on transpacific rate stability; January capacity up 13% to US West Coast. Maersk completes its first Suez Canal transit in two years, indicating a cautious resumption of traffic through the Red Sea corridor. Asia-Europe bookings soar as inland networks face railcar shortages and driver constraints moving toward 2026.
Over the past week, freight rates in container shipping markets received another boost from spot general rate increases, uncertainty around Red Sea and Suez Canal return dates and operational disruptions stemming from exposure to weather and labor risks. Carriers and ports are both grappling with capacity deployment, inland bottlenecks, and investments against a quirkily entrenched global demand backdrop.
Europe's shipping emissions in 2024 climbed 13% year-on-year to a new record high since mandatory reporting began in 2018, driven primarily by container ships taking longer routes via the Red Sea and moving cargo more frequently through disruption zones. At the IMOs 2024 Spring meeting in London, the US government successfully convinced those present to delay a vote on their landmark Net-Zero Framework Framework until October 2026, raising the risk of a derailment in the maritime decarbonization efforts.