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Ocean and Key Ports Update
The situation in and around the Middle East remains volatile, with recent tensions between Israel and Iran having an impact on global trade. In light of the circumstances, Maersk temporarily paused vessel calls to the Port of Haifa, Israel, at the end of June, however a ceasefire agreement has now enabled normal service to resume.
At this time, transit through the Strait of Hormuz remains operationally feasible, and our teams are working out contingency plans on a case-by-case basis to swiftly adapt to any new events. The situation is subject to change at very short notice, so we will update customers with new information as soon as possible. Please click here to head to our dedicated advisory page for more details.
Elsewhere, strong demand from Asia to North Europe and the Mediterranean is forecast for the rest of July in line with seasonality. We encourage customers to book as early as possible in order to secure space.
The Gemini Cooperation East-West Network is now fully phased in, and Sea-Intelligence data showed that Gemini vessels delivered schedule reliability of 90.9% in May – above the 90% ambition. For more information on Gemini, please click here.
After announcing the change of port of discharge on our Neo Samba service, we wish to inform you that the current diversion from London Gateway to Southampton will be extended by an additional four weeks, to maintain high service reliability during peak demand periods and to avoid port congestion. For more information on vessels continuing to call Southampton, please visit the advisory page.
In the north of Europe, several terminals are seeing an increase in yard density – namely Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Gdansk. To help alleviate the situation, customers are kindly asked to collect their import containers as soon as possible after discharge. In Antwerp and Rotterdam, early gate-in requests are not possible, however empty container delivery in Rotterdam remains open.
Similarly, terminals in the north Adriatic - Koper and Rijeka – are experiencing increased yard density and waiting times due to increased number of moves per vessel, and vessel delays. Customers are kindly asked to collect their import containers as soon as possible after discharge, to help maintain healthy yard density levels. In Algeciras, the terminal is showing a good operational performance and labour availability for the summer period. After taking action on yard density, terminal is now seeing healthy yard density levels – our teams continue to monitor the situation and any deviations on vessel arrivals and move counts and will be ready to take actions should density levels increase.
To stay on top of any updates to your cargo, please sign up for ETA notifications.
Air Freight Update
Global air freight demand increased by 6.3% year on year in April 2025 according to the latest data from WorldACD. For Europe, imports increased 3.7% year on year and exports rose by 3.9%.
Air freight has continued to be a popular mode of transport for time-sensitive products, but ongoing uncertainty surrounding the world’s economy and tariff policies has seen more businesses advancing cargo to destinations through air freight.
Flexibility is crucial when it comes to seizing opportunities as market circumstances dictate, and Maersk is able to tailor air services to a business’ unique needs through its own controlled network. Click here to find out more about air freight possibilities to and from Europe.
Please click here to find helpful information about Maersk Air Cargo and our services to and from Europe.
Inland Update
The previously communicated railway closure at the Port of Hamburg is expected to last from 4 July until 7 July, however the actual impact on rail transport is expected in the period between 2 July and 9 July. During this period, no rail transport to or from the Port of Hamburg will be operationally feasible, and customers are kindly asked to change their ocean bookings from Hamburg to Bremerhaven where possible. For customers that still wish to have their ocean cargo delivered to/from Hamburg, we kindly ask that they request truck as transportation mode. For more information on the rail closure and its expected impact, please visit the advisory page.
Similarly, in the north of Italy, major infrastructure works are scheduled on the national railway line serving ports of Genoa, La Spezia and Vado Ligure. At the Port of Genoa, no rail services will be available between 2 August and 31 August, and acceptance of rail cargo will be suspended starting 21 July. Customers are kindly asked to plan their bookings with this in mind, and to reach out to their Maersk representative in case of any questions or concerns.
At the ports of Genoa Vado Ligure and La Spezia, rail services will operate regularly during the June - September period, although train movements may be subject to diversions and/or restrictions, as well as possible delays and cancellations. During this period, we will strive to minimise the impact of these disruptions by continuing to offer our trucking services, both in round-trip and one-way modes.
These works will result in longer travel distances and the need for extraordinary resources to maintain service continuity. Consequently, we will introduce an Inland Peak Season Surcharge for all export and import rail moves across the entire rail network. For more information and surcharge details, please visit this advisory page.
In the Middle East, due to escalations in tensions, a temporary suspension of vessel calls to Port of Haifa was in place. The regular port calls have resumed on Monday, 30 June, and inland services continue their operations based on the setup with local partners. For the latest updates on the situation, please click here.
For more information on ways to connect seamlessly with our rail, road, and barge solutions across Europe, please visit our Inland transportation services in Europe.
Customs Update
Global tariffs continue to be the big headline in the world of customs, however big question marks remain over the situation. As it stands, most country-specific import tariffs are paused while long-term deals are being negotiated, with deadlines coming up in July and August. It’s vital to keep track of new trade tariffs to mitigate the risk of surprise fees or fines. Our Global Trade and Customs Consultants can assist with trade strategies and HS classification to ensure compliance and optimised results on the bottom line. Please also head to the Maersk Global Market Update for further tariffs insights.
Key provisions of the UK and US’ ‘Economic Prosperity Deal’ officially came into effect on 30th June 2025, covering tariff reductions on cars, aircraft engines and aerospace parts. The primary term has seen the US reduce tariffs on cars from 27.5% to 10%. This 10% tariff also applies to UK part exports that accompany finished passenger cars exported to the US. For more information and further terms, please click here.
With every customs challenge does come opportunity, however, as getting ahead of the curve can ultimately lead to success. Click here to hear from Maersk experts on how to turn customs challenges into opportunities, and sign up for upcoming customs webinars.
Ecommerce Update
The European ecommerce market shows no signs of slowing down – Germany, for instance, is increasing their ecommerce forecast growth for the year to 4%, while the Dutch consumers increased their expenditure on products by 8% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the same period last year.
This growth comes with its own set of challenges. Take first delivery attempts as an example - in some countries, up to 25% of first delivery attempts fail, and the related costs amount to over €14 per failure in Germany and £11.60 in the UK. This results in costly inefficiencies for retailers and last-mile delivery providers, and increased waiting times and inconveniences for consumers.
And these inefficiencies are only amplified when instead of unsuccessful delivery attempts, parcels end up lost. In the last quarter of 2024 alone, 3.75 million parcels were officially registered as lost, costing European retailers over half a billion euros in revenue.
In this environment, efficient and flexible delivery options are critical to meeting customer expectations and driving business growth. Implementing a multi-carrier solution for delivering to Pick-Up and Drop-Off points (PUDOs) and lockers can help overcome both challenges above, enhancing both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
A multi-carrier solution diversifies delivery partnerships, leveraging the strengths of multiple logistics providers to optimise the last-mile delivery process. By integrating various carriers, retailers can access a broader network of PUDOs and lockers and mitigates risk associated with relying on a single provider. Delays, capacity constraints, or service disruptions from one carrier can be offset by rerouting shipments through others, ensuring consistent service levels.
This reliability builds trust with consumers, who increasingly expect seamless delivery experiences. Different carriers often have own unique strengths – some excel in speed, others in cost-efficiency or specialised handling. By strategically selecting carriers for specific routes or product types, businesses can optimise costs while maintaining high service standards, positioning themselves as customer-centric by providing choice and convenience.
Find out more about how our teams can help provide the best ecommerce delivery solutions for your business by visiting our E-Delivery page.
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