What’s happening in freight and logistics at the start of September?

As September arrives, the U-Freight Group notes that the global container port landscape is undergoing a significant shift, with geopolitical developments and changing trade patterns altering the rankings of the world’s busiest hubs. 

According to FreightWaves, Ningbo-Zhoushan overtook Singapore to become the world’s second-busiest container port during the first half of 2026. Port Klang in Malaysia also entered the global top 10, reflecting the growing importance of Southeast Asian hubs as shipping networks adapt to disruption and changing trade routes.

Geopolitical tensions are having an especially pronounced effect. Disruption around the Strait of Hormuz contributed to a dramatic fall in volumes at Dubai’s Jebel Ali, which dropped from 10th to 32nd place. Meanwhile, Los Angeles-Long Beach retained ninth position. The latest rankings underline how quickly geopolitical events, rerouting and changing supply chains can influence global container flows — developments that will remain important for businesses planning international shipments.

Read the original FreightWaves article here: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/china-gains-as-geopolitics-redraws-new-global-container-port-rankings

Container rates ease

Meanwhile, global container freight rates continued to ease slightly in the latest Drewry World Container Index, which fell by 1% in the week to 27 August. The decline reflects lower spot rates on key east-west trades, including transpacific and Asia-Europe routes. While the weekly movement is relatively modest, the index remains an important indicator of the direction of the container shipping market and the cost pressures facing shippers. 

For exporters and importers, the latest figures suggest that freight rates remain sensitive to changes in demand, vessel capacity and routing patterns. With geopolitical disruption still affecting some major trade lanes, however, rate movements are likely to remain difficult to predict, making forward planning and close monitoring of market conditions increasingly important.

Read the original Hellenic Shipping News article here: https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/drewry-world-container-index-down-1-last-week-10

Schedule reliability deteriorates

Staying with container shipping, container shipping schedule reliability deteriorated significantly in July, according to the latest Global Liner Performance report from Sea-Intelligence. Global schedule reliability fell by 6.1 percentage points from June to 56.4%, making July the weakest month of 2026 so far and the lowest level recorded since February 2025. 

The deterioration highlights the continuing challenges facing liner operators as vessels contend with disrupted routes, congestion and network changes. For shippers, lower reliability can mean longer and less predictable transit times, making accurate planning, inventory management and contingency arrangements particularly important. The figures also reinforce the value of working closely with freight partners to monitor schedules and identify potential disruptions before they affect supply chains.

Read the original Container News article HERE: https://container-news.com/global-schedule-reliability-falls-to-56-4-in-july

Containership orderbook grows

Finally, the global orderbook for new containerships has grown to almost 40% of the existing fleet, raising concerns about potential overcapacity and its impact on future ocean freight rates. FreightWaves reports that much of the new capacity is concentrated in large vessels designed for the major east-west trade lanes, with fleet growth potentially outpacing container demand.

The eventual impact on freight rates will depend on several factors, including how long vessels continue to avoid traditional routes, the extent of slow steaming and how quickly older ships are retired. If more capacity enters the market while demand growth remains subdued, downward pressure on rates could develop. However, continuing geopolitical disruption and longer sailing distances could absorb some of the additional capacity, making the balance between supply and demand one to watch closely over the coming years.

Read the original FreightWaves article here: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ocean-rate-concerns-as-orders-for-new-container-ships-near-40-of-global-fleet

Overall picture

For the U-Freight Group, with our array of international freight and logistics services across all modes, these developments, when taken together point to a container shipping market that remains highly fluid. Geopolitical disruption is reshaping established trade routes and port rankings, schedule reliability has deteriorated, freight rates are edging lower, and a substantial wave of new vessel capacity is entering the pipeline.For businesses moving goods internationally, flexibility and forward planning remain essential as carriers and global supply chains continue to adjust.

We continue to monitor these developments and consider the range of solutions that may be available to customers.

For expert advice or further information on our multimodal freight and logistics services, please contact your local U-Freight office or visit the ocean freight section of this website.