NEWS

Uruguay’s Ministry of Labor and Social Security and Ministry of Transport and Public Works established minimum services at the Specialized Container Terminal of the Port of Montevideo to ensure operational continuity during the dispute between Terminal Cuenca del Plata S.A. and the Sindicato Único Portuario y Ramas Afines (SUPRA). The Executive Branch adopted the measure after determining that union actions had affected operations at the country’s only specialized container t

Global goods trade remained on an expansionary path and showed greater momentum during the third quarter of 2026 despite persistent geopolitical uncertainty, according to the latest WTO Goods Trade Barometer, which reached 102 points, up from 101.7 in June. Strong demand for electronic components and other inputs linked to artificial intelligence investment continues to support global trade and help cushion the effects of the conflict in the Middle East and persistent uncerta

Hapag-Lloyd and Israeli private equity firm FIMI are restructuring their $4.2 billion bid to acquire ZIM in an effort to overcome strong political opposition and obtain Israeli government approval. Following several rounds of talks with Israel’s economy, finance and defence ministries, the German shipping company plans to submit an improved proposal by the end of September, incorporating stronger safeguards for the country’s maritime security and access to strategic trade rou

Persistent congestion on the Danube River is reducing vessel availability in the Black Sea, particularly for smaller general cargo vessels, and maintaining upward pressure on freight rates throughout the grain export season. Repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian export infrastructure in the Odesa region have disrupted operations at the country’s main Black Sea ports, forcing cargo to be redirected through lower-capacity Danube ports such as Reni and Izmail and creating severe

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced a new phased reduction in daily transits after rainfall between May and August came in 34% below the historical average, while inflows into the canal watershed fell 44%. Starting on September 4, the number of vessels allowed to transit the canal will decrease from 36 to 34 per day, before falling further to 32 from September 15. The situation is considerably less severe than during the 2023-2024 drought, when daily transits dropped a

Major Northern European ports, particularly Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp, have been experiencing congestion for months, reducing effective shipping capacity, increasing costs and creating greater uncertainty for South American importers. According to data cited in the article, around 3.7 million TEUs, equivalent to 11% of the global container ship fleet, were anchored waiting to enter ports worldwide in July 2026, the highest level in four years. Hamburg recorded a 10% decl

Congestion at container ports is increasing globally, leading to longer wait times and a decline in the reliability of shipping schedules. According to Drewry, the average wait time for ships nearly doubled between the first seven months of 2019 and the same period in 2026, while the total time a container ship spends in port increased by 31%. Although Maersk attributes part of the problem to about 15 years of insufficient investment in port infrastructure, Drewry argues that

Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) issued a favorable ruling on the proposed ownership restructuring of Brasil Terminal Portuário (BTP), currently owned equally by APM Terminals (Maersk) and Terminal Investment Limited (MSC). Under the proposed arrangement, both companies could bid separately for the future Tecon Santos 10 concession and, if one wins, the other would purchase its partner’s 50% stake in BTP. CADE concluded that the transaction would no

Brazil planted its smallest wheat area since 2017 in 2026, and together with expectations for a smaller harvest, the scenario could increase the country’s dependence on the international market during the 2026/27 season. Domestic wheat production is estimated at around 5.8 million metric tons, while imports could reach between 7.1 million and 7.5 million metric tons, a volume that, according to one of the projections cited, could make Brazil the world’s fourth-largest wheat i

The Shanghai–Ningbo–Zhoushan port corridor was closed twice in less than 30 days due to Typhoons Bavi and Dolphin, causing delays, reduced space availability on ships, and upward pressure on freight rates between Asia and South America. Before Dolphin struck, the Shanghai terminals were already facing delays of between 4.4 and 8 days due to the previous closure, while the new disruption forced shipping lines to reschedule itineraries, skip port calls, and perform more cargo r

Global ocean freight rates have doubled and even tripled since the start of the war in Iran in late February 2026, but behind this increase lie not only demand-side factors but also a structural contraction in available capacity that is transforming the market. Although the order book for new ships accounts for 37% of the existing fleet, various factors are reducing effective supply: chronic port congestion, the growing use of blank sailings to manage capacity, and geopolitic

Hapag-Lloyd announced the launch of Asia-South America East Coast (AS3), a new weekly maritime service developed in partnership with ZIM that will directly connect China with various ports in Brazil and expand connectivity to the Río de la Plata via Rio Grande. The route will depart from Shanghai and continue through Ningbo, Xiamen, Hong Kong, and Yantian, before calling at the Brazilian ports of Rio Grande, Paranaguá, Itajaí, Santos, and Rio de Janeiro. The service will begi