New Zealand
AIR
IMPORT
- Major terminals (Air New Zealand, Swissport, Menzies) are operating normally nationwide.
EXPORT
- Major terminals (Air New Zealand, Swissport, Menzies) are operating normally nationwide.
LANDSIDE & CUSTOMS
- Empty Depot fee increases come into effect on 1st February per previous communications.
- KiwiRail Block of Line has finished. Heavy weather did cause some delays across parts of the network; the service has caught up to schedule.
- High Winds have been delaying Port and Container Depot operations due to safety concerns. These disruptions affect container delivery timings, with lost VBS and rebooking required. Our transport partners are working hard to manage the container movements.
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.
- Terminals in Australia are increasingly weighing import and export containers at the terminal to ensure that the container weights have been manifested correctly as per the VGM (Verified Gross Mass). Containers found to be weighing +/- 1000 kgs outside of the declared VGM will be subject to a Weight Amendment Fee. As the VGM is a mandatory requirement, please speak to your suppliers to ensure correct weights are declared & a VGM document is provided to avoid any penalty fees.
- The South Australian government has launched an initiative aimed at supporting exporting business overcome market challenges, in particular businesses that have made “significant investment” in trade-disrupted markets. This will enable SA export businesses to seek advice on trade strategy/compliance and tariff negotiation, and assist companies to diversify markets. To lodge an EOI, more information can be found here: Export Diversification Grant Program – Department of State Development
- There has been a significant increase in Air and Sea shipments on Border Hold as well as increasing delays for shipments held on Border Hold (ABF Border, Redline and Examination holds). Increased shipment volumes, system outages and more complex examinations required have exacerbated the issue, with some shipments being held up to one month. Australian Border Force will not provide estimated release time frames while cargo is on hold, nor will they give reasoning as to why cargo is held. Please be aware that cargo will still incur detention and demurrage while at the port whilst on Border Hold. The ABF has put on extra staff to work through the backlog. Please allow for additional time buffers when planning shipments, and manage downstream expectations as much as possible. While these delays are out of our control, our Customer Service and Landside teams will continue to monitor and provide updates for those shipments impacted.
Asia
AIR
IMPORT
- Please note that China offices will be closed for the Lunar New Year holiday from 17th February to 3rd March, Normal operations resume on the 24th February. Given possible depot traffic jams and shortages of trucks and equipment before CNY, the shortage of trucking drivers will likely be from 08th February. Please ensure adequate preparations are made.
- Capacity constraints continue across many Asian origins, driven by an increase in air volume, ocean freight delays, increased conversion of sea freight to air and rush before CNY.
- Rates remain volatile on key trade lanes into both New Zealand and Australia, as strong demand and limited uplift availability puts pressure on spot pricing.
- Capacity remains stable across SYD, MEL, BNE, and PER, supported by freighter services.
- Demand for Asia to Australia is firm, driven largely by e-commerce and technology cargo.
- Competitive spot rates remain available ex South China to Australia on select carriers, subject to space.
EXPORT
- Consols moving as booked with capacity available on most carriers out of both New Zealand and Australia.
- Please note that from 17th February to 3rd March is Lunar New Year, so over this period some airline services maybe experience longer transit times than normal. Early booking is advised ahead of Lunar New Year to mitigate space shortages and rate volatility.
- Strong outbound demand from Australia to Asia for tech, retail, and e-commerce is keeping rates firm.
OCEAN
IMPORT
- With Lunar New Year celebrations (and the associated time off) in 3 weeks time, all bookings should now be in place to get goods away if required prior. In the lead up, we can often see challenges getting trucking arrange so please liaise with your supplier and ensure that is all booked in as early as possible.
- Congestion in Singapore and Malaysian transship ports continues to be an issue as we see the beginning of some services returning to transiting through the Suez Canal (although CMA-CGM’s announcement to cancel their services should help alleviate that). 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.
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
- Fed-Ex cancelled a number of flights due to Australia Day which caused a backlog, they are only now catching back up. Other carriers are operating normally, Singapore Airlines likely to decrease their freighter capacity over the CNY period which will affect services from Australia.
- Rates remain steady with no indication of rises thus far in 2026.
- Australian major terminals (Qantas Freight, Dnata, Swissport, Menzies) are operating normally nationwide.
EXPORT
- Consols are moving as booked with capacity available on most carriers.
- Export operations across Australia Terminals remain fully functional.
OCEAN
- Due to weather issues in Sydney, the ANL Trans-Tasman schedule has been impacted. The CNC Jawa V2601 changed it’s port rotation, calling Melbourne instead of Sydney to protect forward berthing windows and assist with schedule recovery. Due to this, the ANL TTZ service has decided to perform a schedule slide, starting with the ANL Rotorua V2601/2601 to bring all 4 vessels back on window.
IMPORT
- Trans-Tasman 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 for New Zealand and Australia, though spot pricing may apply for urgent, oversized, or late bookings.
- Strong intra-Europe demand is placing indirect pressure on long-haul backhaul space into Australia.
EXPORT
- Consol is moving as booked with capacity available on most carriers out of both New Zealand and Australia.
- Rates are stable for New Zealand and Australia exports, though spot volatility remains possible due to global market conditions.
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 and Maersk have had to revert to sailing via Cape of Good Hope with connections in Asia due to political instability and new threats from Houthi Rebels in Yemen.
- MSC will start offering southbound connections from UK, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany via Panama in March. These transit times are 3-4 weeks faster than vessels via Asia. This is a very welcome addition to the market.
- 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. Delays continue.
North America
AIR
IMPORT
- Rates for consol cargo to New Zealand still remains steady for 2026. So far any tariff changes haven’t impacted this in any way.
- Crosstrades are picking up again.
- Due to the chaotic weather USA are being hit with, main airports LAX/ORD/ATL/JFK and surrounding areas are experiencing major delays due to airline closures, carrier stoppages and some businesses closing doors periodically.
- The additional TN service that is 1x weekly to New Zealand is still going well.
- Congestion at LAX continues, with consol delays of 2–4 days impacting some Australia-bound services.
- Australian gateways remain adequately serviced, with seasonal uplift and flexible routing options available.
- Rates for USA to Australia remain generally stable, following a brief early-January softening.
EXPORT
- Consols are moving as booked with capacity available on most carriers out of New Zealand.
- Please note that due to the current Winter Storm Fern in the USA, Airlines are implementing flight restrictions and some services maybe cancelled or delayed, therefore total airport to airport transit time may experience longer time than normal.
- Softer early-January demand has eased capacity pressure for Australian exports, though US gateway congestion may still require flexible routings.
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 has increased to 2.8 days. Berth congestion and arrival delays are related to the holiday schedule and adverse weather conditions.
Norfolk – no berthing delays, import dwell time has increased to 3.9 days.
Charleston – no berthing delays, import dwell has increased to 10.1 days.
Savannah – average wait time for a berth has increased to 2 days, Import dwell time has increased to 11.7 days, rail dwell time has is 1 day.
Houston – no waiting time for a berth. Import dwell time is 3.7 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
- With Winter Storm Fern hitting the USA over the past few days, we are seeing a lot of closures of depots throughout North-Eastern (and even some Southern) states as well as challenges accessing trucking services across much of the country. It is highly likely we will see cargo delayed by a week or more, especially if transiting through multiple Freight Stations.
- Space remains relatively open and the impacts of the Eagle service entering in mid-late March will see extra capacity being added.
EXPORT
- MSC’s Eagle service commences in February with the first vessel, Etoile, departing Wellington February 16th and Tauranga February 18th. The first departure is fully booked.
- 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.
- A widespread winter storm that has recently moved across the United States, affecting areas from Texas and Oklahoma to New England has caused port closures and transport delays. Significant snow and ice, power outages, and hazardous travel conditions, will continue to cause severe disruptions in the coming days. More than half the USA has experienced some form of winter weather alert in recent days. Please expect delays.
