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Gulf ports cannot cope with Hormuz closure
23 Marzo 2026 - The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has exposed the structural limits of Gulf ports: high theoretical capacity, but insufficient inland corridors to handle diverted volumes. Jebel Ali and smaller hubs risk functional collapse, with knock-on effects reaching as far as Asia.
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Switzerland to introduce tolls for electric trucks from 2029
23 Marzo 2026 - From 2029 Switzerland will extend its heavy vehicle charge to electric trucks, with gradually declining discounts until 2035. The reform also affects Euro VI diesel vehicles, increasing their charges from 2027.
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Italian trailer growth slows
23 Marzo 2026 - Italian registrations of trailers and semi-trailers were broadly stable in February 2026, while the first two months of the year remained in positive territory. Unrae warns of a possible reversal in the trend and is calling for urgent action on incentives and the regulatory framework to support fleet renewal and improve efficiency across the sector.
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Spanish truck drivers protest over early retirement
23 Marzo 2026 - Thousands of Spanish professional drivers protested outside the Ministry of Transport on 10 March 2026, calling for early retirement without penalties. At the centre of the dispute is a demand to apply reduction coefficients to a sector employing more than 700,000 workers.
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Tajik truck driver wins court case after months living in cab
20 Marzo 2026 - A driver employed by a Lithuanian company and left unpaid for seven months blocked his truck at a Dutch service area, invoking a right of retention over the vehicle. A court in Enschede ruled in his favour, ordering the company to pay more than €17,800 in back wages and daily allowances, rejecting all of the employer’s claims.
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Ship operated by OOCL loses dozens of containers at sea
20 Marzo 2026 - The OOCL Sunflower lost dozens of containers in the North Pacific during a storm on the Asia–United States route, with estimates ranging from 32 to 57 units as US authorities activate safety measures and begin checks on arrival in Long Beach.
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Smuggling logistics network for cigarettes dismantled
20 Marzo 2026 - An investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Guardia di Finanza of Palermo has led to the seizure of 17 tonnes of cigarettes, 8 tonnes of shredded tobacco and a clandestine plant in Castagnaro, in the province of Verona, linked to logistics depots in the Padua area.
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Container freight rates continue to rise in mid-March 2026
19 Marzo 2026 - Average spot container freight rates published by Drewry on 19 March 2026 show a moderate increase across all outbound routes from China. Transpacific trades recorded the sharpest gains, while fuel surcharges are weighing on global transport costs.
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Confirmed: MSC enters oil shipping
19 Marzo 2026 - An agreement between the Aponte group and South Korean shipowner Ga-Hyun Chung will see MSC acquire a 50% stake in Sinokor, the world’s largest operator of VLCC supertankers, with an estimated 24% share of tonnage available on the global spot market. The move turns market rumours into a formal corporate structure and reshapes the balance of power in crude transport at a time when freight rates are at their highest since 2020.
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Leonardo acquires Iveco Defence and clears the way for Tata
19 Marzo 2026 - Leonardo has finalised the mid-March acquisition of Iveco’s military division, including the Iveco Defence Vehicles and Astra brands. The deal was a necessary condition for Tata Motors to launch its takeover bid for the rest of the group, valued at around €3.8 billion.
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New EU rules for intermodal transport
19 Marzo 2026 - The European Commission has adopted a new State aid framework for land and multimodal transport, replacing the 2008 guidelines. The aim is to accelerate the shift of freight from road to rail, inland waterways and intermodal solutions, while simplifying approval procedures for national governments.
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Transport and logistics news – 18 March 2026
18 Marzo 2026 - Cautious return of ships to Suez – DSV sells assets in Sweden – Delay rumours for Rail Baltica – Ukraine seizes Russian wagons – Mezzago Park nears capacity
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Italian logistics labour market under strain in the first quarter of 2026
18 Marzo 2026 - The Excelsior labour market information system depicts Italian transport and logistics as a vital sector facing severe shortages of skilled staff: more than 95,000 hires are expected over the quarter, with nearly one in two vacancies difficult to fill, particularly for drivers and forklift operators.
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EU approves funding for Alpine Rail Motorway
18 Marzo 2026 - The European Commission has approved public support for combined transport between France and Italy on the Aiton–Orbassano route. Moving beyond the single concessionaire model, the Alpine rail service will reopen to competition with the aim of shifting freight traffic from road to rail.
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Twenty thousand seafarers trapped in the Persian Gulf
18 Marzo 2026 - Around 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. The International Maritime Organization has condemned an unsustainable situation marked by attacks, insurance risks and compromised seafarers’ rights.
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Global port congestion amid geopolitics and rerouting
18 Marzo 2026 - The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on maritime infrastructure in the Gulf are reshaping global container flows, with heavy repercussions for ports in western India, African hubs and major Asian gateways, including record delays, rising surcharges and emergency measures.
Brevi dal mondo
Dfds potenzia nel Baltico - Alleanza ferroviaria a Rotterdam - Evoluzione digitale di FS Logistix - Preoccupazione per la chiusura di Tarvisio
Podcast K44
Cronaca
17 camionisti arrestati a Savona per furto di gasolio
Un’indagine della Guardia di Finanza nel deposito fiscale carburanti di Vado Ligure ha coinvolto diciassette autotrasportatori, col sequestro di oltre 3.700 litri di gasolio. Il prodotto veniva sottratto durante il carico e rivenduto fuori circuito a prezzi inferiori.
Normativa
Videocast K44
Aereo
Il cargo aereo scommette sulla tregua del Golfo
La tregua tra Stati Uniti e Iran può ridurre la pressione sui noli del trasporto aereo delle merci, ma il ritorno alla normalità richiederà fino a due mesi. Intanto le rilevazioni di Xeneta mostrano aumenti fino al 105% sulle principali rotte tra Asia, Medio Oriente ed Europa.
Ferrovia
L’intermodale di CargoBeamer si allunga verso Parma
Il servizio ferroviario intermodale transalpino avviato nel 2026 tra Liegi e Domodossola è stato prolungato ad aprile 2026 fino al terminal Cepim di Parma, mantenendo sei corse settimanali per direzione e ampliando la copertura della rete CargoBeamer verso i poli logistici e agroalimentari del Nord Italia.
Persone
La proprietà di Msc passa da Gianluigi Aponte ai figli Alexa e Diego
Il 13 aprile 2026 Mediterranean Shipping Company ha annunciato uno storico passaggio di generazione: la proprietà passa dal fondatore Gainluigi Aponte, che resta presidente esecutivo ai figli Alexa e Diego, che sono rispettivamente presidente e Cfo del Gruppo.
