New Zealand
AIR
IMPORT
- New Zealand terminal facilities (Air NZ and Menzies at AKL) are fully functional with no major service issues reported outside regional disruptions.
EXPORT
- Export operations at New Zealand terminals (Menzies and Air New Zealand) remain fully functional, with no major service issues reported.
LANDSIDE & CUSTOMS
- Container Depot Fees increasing February 1st – Majority of Empty Container Depots across New Zealand are applying VBS increases of 25% from Feb 1, 2026.
- KiwiRail Block of Line – The current Auckland Block of Line has two weeks to go. Container movements are flowing well with the system KiwiRail have in place.
- Post Short Week backlogs – There are delays with container devanning at Auckland CFS depots. There are extra shifts being put on to minimise further disruption. CFS Depots that have VBS have been at capacity with trucking companies unable to secure same day collections. Container Empty Depots have capacity issues causing delays for empty containers being dehired. This is being worked through with the Shipping Lines involved to minimise disruption.
Australia
LANDSIDE & CUSTOMS
- In addition to Stevedore Fee increases, Empty Container Parks have increased their cost for dehire and collection of empty containers effective 1st January 2026.
- The new Melbourne Westgate Tunnel Project is now complete effective 14th December, and trucks are required to use this tunnel to gain access into and out of the Port of Melbourne. The new access route reduces congestion and removes trucks off residential streets, however impacts importers and exporters with the introduction of new toll road costs.
- The Fremantle Traffic Bridge will close on the 1st February 2026 and will remain closed for up to 12 months to allow completion of the new replacement bridge. Although the state government has announced a suite of mitigation measures, truck congestion across the port precinct is still expected to increase. Please be aware and plan for additional travel time and waiting time costs from carriers.
- Australia has experienced tumultuous weather over the last week. With temperatures soaring in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, Northern Queensland has had tropical cyclones and flooding. If you are sending anything intercity or interstate, please be aware that there may be some delays due to rail lines melting and road closures either through fire risk/damage or flooding. Our team will keep you updated.
- PortGate Logistics Brisbane has implemented the Inbound Connect timeslot fees.
- Terminal shut downs:
- Hutchison Ports (Brisbane) MUA Stop Work Meeting – Friday 16th January (1000 hours to 1400 hours)
- Patrick Fisherman Islands closure for yard infrastructure and system maintenance – Thursday 22nd January (0700 hours – 2300 hours)
Asia
AIR
IMPORT
- Capacity is relatively stable across most Asia to New Zealand and Australia, supported by steady freighter and belly-hold availability, though demand remains firm driven mostly by e-commerce.
- China rates have dipped slightly in early January 2026 amid softer post-holiday demand, but remain volatile and adjusted weekly based on capacity, transhipment congestion, and emerging Lunar New Year pressures (Chinese New Year falls on February 17, 2026, with advance bookings strongly recommended to secure space ahead of the expected pre-holiday surge).
- China Southern Airlines continues to offer competitive spot rates ex Guangzhou, applicable to key gateways like AKL, SYD, MEL, BNE, and PER.
- Overall, Asia-Pacific airfreight outlook for Q1 2026 is cautiously optimistic, with potential rate fluctuations due to geopolitical uncertainties and supply chain shifts.
EXPORT
- Consols are moving as booked, with sufficient capacity on most carriers, though early bookings are advised ahead
of Lunar New Year to avoid rate spikes or space shortages. - Demand from New Zealand and Australia remains strong for tech and e-commerce exports, contributing to firm but stable rates in early January.
OCEAN
IMPORT
- Space challenges from North Asia (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan) have extended into 2026, with constraints likely to remain through to the Lunar New Year holiday, beginning on 17 February.
- Congestion in Singapore and Malaysian transship ports seems to be an issue at this point as we see the beginning of some services returning to transiting through the Suez Canal. The services moving through the Suez seems to be on an ad-hoc basis and limited to the backhaul leg (Europe back to Asia), so it is challenging for all stakeholders to plan accordingly. We are hoping that, as the situation develops and we see a more sustained return to Suez transits, some of this congestion eases but at this point there are currently berthing delays of 5 – 7 days, which may lead to some port omissions in the coming weeks.
- Some carriers are experiencing issues accessing empty containers, especially in China. This seems to be off the back of a pause in their new build programmes as they eye a return to the Suez and faster transits meaning equipment is freed up more quickly. So far these issues seem more anecdotal however tend to exacerbate quite quickly when they do occur.
EXPORT
- Some Carriers are still experiencing transhipment delays in Singapore.
- Space has eased but vessels are often still fully booked 2+ weeks in advance, we encourage you to make bookings in advance where possible.
Trans-Tasman
AIR
IMPORT
- Consols are moving as booked with very good capacity on Trans-Tasman lanes (e.g., ex AKL to SYD, MEL, BNE, PER and vice versa), as well as from Pacific islands.
- Rates remain steady, with only minor adjustments expected for fuel surcharges or terminal fees; regional demand is supported by e-commerce growth but remains balanced.
- Australian terminals (including Qantas Freight, Swissport, dnata, and Menzies) are fully functional with no major service issues reported outside regional disruptions.
- Note on Victoria Bushfires: Ongoing bushfires in Victoria, declared a State of Disaster on January 10, 2026, have razed significant areas and continue to cause disruptions. Smoke is reducing visibility at Melbourne Airport (MEL), leading to flight delays, cancellations, single-runway operations, and potential consol backlogs of 2–4 days (with knock-on effects possibly extending into the week). Qantas and other carriers have offered fee-free rebookings for affected itineraries (originally through January 10–11, with extensions in some cases). Parcel and mail networks in northern Victoria may face additional delays.
EXPORT
- Consols are moving as booked, with adequate uplift on most carriers across Trans-Tasman and Pacific routes.
- Export operations at Australian major terminals (Qantas, Dnata, Swissport, Menzies) remain fully functional, with no major service issues reported.
- Bushfire impacts in Victoria may cause minor outbound delays from MEL; potentially rerouting time-critical shipments via SYD/BNE.
OCEAN
IMPORT
- Transtasman services have been relatively stable after a bumpy Christmas/ New year buildup. There are occasional omissions but no backlog or congestion to contend with at time of writing. Given the ample capacity from AU to NZ, contracts are in place and some shipping lines have indicated bookings can be made 5-6 weeks in advance.
- 20’ equipment remains tight across all ports with primary industries now in export season full swing. We would suggest long term strategies include building all supply chains around 40/40HC bookings to avoid disappointment and/or delays in securing containers.
- The MSC US East coast ‘Eagle service’ starting in February may create some competitive tension in this tradelane. With a new direct Brisbane -Tauranga option coming into play, we will continue to monitor market conditions (and reactions) from incumbent TTA providers.
EXPORT
- All NZ export services have immediate availability.
Europe
AIR
IMPORT
- Capacity remains generally stable across Europe to New Zealand and Australia, with most airlines maintaining consistent schedules despite minor aircraft delivery delays constraining global growth.
- Rates are holding steady, though spot pricing may apply for urgent, oversized, or late bookings; intra-Europe trade growth is adding indirect pressure on transatlantic and transpacific lanes that could influence backhaul availability.
EXPORT
- Consols are moving as booked, with adequate uplift on most carriers; steady capacity is expected through Q1 2026, though volatile global rates could influence spot opportunities.
OCEAN
IMPORT
- BMSB season has started again on September 1st 2025 and will run to April 30th 2026. Procedures are mostly the same as last season.
- CMA CGM has announced that some of their vessels will return to the Suez canal in February. We are investigating this as a possible LCL option from Hamburg initially and other ports as they roll out. Maersk has not advised any Suez options yet.
- We have seen increased customs inspections from European ports particularly on cargo with any military connection.
EXPORT
- Due to increased imports from China to the Middle East many carriers are experiencing heavy demand and space has tightened. ONE has withdrawn their service to the Middle East.
- Due to winter storms terminals in Hamburg, the North of France, Rotterdam, and Antwerp are experiencing slower operations, and in some cases, terminal activities may be temporarily suspended. As a result, delays are expected for vessels and shipments moving through these locations.
North America
AIR
IMPORT
- Rates remain generally stable into New Zealand and Australia, with spot pricing possible for time-sensitive shipments; early January has seen a brief softening before the anticipated Lunar New Year buildup.
- Peak-season congestion persists at major US gateways like LAX, with consol delays of up to 2-4 days reported, potentially affecting onward connections to AKL, SYD, MEL, BNE, and PER.
- Capacity into New Zealand routes (particularly AKL) benefits from strong uplift options, while Australian ports remain adequate on most carriers, bolstered by seasonal services.
EXPORT
- Consols are moving as booked, with adequate uplift on most carriers; softer early January demand is opening capacity, but US gateway congestion (e.g., LAX) may require flexible routing.
OCEAN
- Vancouver – no berthing delays. Import rail dwell average has increased to 4.1 days.
- Panama Canal services for ANP/OC1 service – Space is readily accessible, we do encourage that bookings are
placed in 2+ weeks in advance of departure. - US Terminal Operations:
New York – berthing delays of 3.5 days. Import rail dwell time is 0.9 days. Berth congestion and arrival delays are related to the holiday schedule and adverse weather conditions.
Norfolk – berthing delays of 18 hours, import dwell time has increased to 3.2 days.
Charleston – no berthing delays, import dwell has increased to 9.6 days.
Savannah – average wait time for a berth has decreased to 1.0 day, Import dwell time has increased to 10.8 days, rail dwell time has reduced to 0.9 days.
Houston – no waiting time for a berth. Import dwell time is 3.8 days.
Oakland – no berthing delays. Average import delivery timeframe remains at 4 days.
Seattle – no berthing delays. Rail import dwell time remains at 3 days.
Long Beach – congestion on port has not improved with delays of 4-8 days.
IMPORT
- The first services on the MSC’s new Eagle service will begin their Southbound rotations from mid-March, this is yet to have any major impact on rates and we are unlikely to see any action until Q2 departures.
- All other services moving as usual from North America at this point.
EXPORT
- MSC’s Eagle service commences in February with the first vessel, Etoile, departing Wellington February 16th and Tauranga February 18th.
- West Coast North America – the direct service to West Coast of the US & Canadian is seeing a drop off in demand, the Vancouver calling vessels remain at capacity. There is a blank sailing in week 5, after the departure of the Mate 602N (Jan 22) the next departure for Seattle is not until Feb 12th.
