Expensive bill in the US for Cosco and OOCL
The new US port taxes on China-linked traffic, which came into force in October 2025, have had an immediate impact on the main Chinese shipping lines. According to several international sources, in the first week alone Cosco and OOCL paid around 42 million dollars in port fees. The measure, introduced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), sets charges of up to 80 dollars per net ton for each voyage of vessels built or operated by Chinese companies. The tariffs will gradually increase until 2028, with an estimated annual impact of more than 2.1 billion dollars for the Cosco–OOCL group. Post-Panamax fleets are the most affected, with average costs between 3 and 4 million dollars per port call. Calculations by HSBC, Alphaliner and FreightWaves suggest that Cosco could pay up to 1.5 billion dollars in 2026, while OOCL is expected to reach around 654 million. Some operators are considering repositioning vessels to reduce tariff exposure, but both companies have confirmed to US authorities their intention to maintain operations and services in order not to disrupt trade flows with the United States.
Railway expansion at the Port of Algeciras
The Port of Algeciras is launching a new phase of its rail development plan with the expansion of the T1 terminal. The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras has approved the start of procedures for the partial recovery of a section of the concession held by Total Terminal International Algeciras, a necessary step to increase infrastructure capacity. The project includes extending the current three rail tracks to 750 metres and building a fourth of the same length. Once completed, the Andalusian port authority estimates the T1 terminal will be able to handle up to ten 750-metre trains per day. The expansion is part of a broader plan to enhance the port’s intermodality, which also includes a new rail link between the Botafuegos technical area and the port. The project aims to improve safety and reliability while reducing interference between passenger and freight traffic. In the first nine months of the year, container traffic grew in full import (+2.4%) and export (+5.7%) shipments, while total cargo throughput reached 75 million tonnes, down by 5.2%.
Pakistan–Iran–Turkey railway reactivated
Freight services on the Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul (ITI) line will resume on 31 December 2025, after a three-year suspension caused by administrative issues, infrastructure deficiencies and flood-related damage in Pakistan, including the collapse of historic bridges. The decision was confirmed following meetings between the transport ministries of Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, coordinated by the Economic Cooperation Organization. Recent agreements include modernisation of the Quetta–Taftan section on the Iran–Pakistan border, harmonisation of rail tariffs, simplification of customs procedures and overall service improvement. The initial goal is to operate at least one freight train per month along the 6,540-km route, with frequency to increase depending on commercial demand. Economically and strategically, the reactivation of the ITI corridor aims to cut transit times between Asia and Europe from 30–40 days by sea to around 10–15 days by rail, promoting regional trade and making South Asia’s exports more competitive. For Pakistan, it provides an alternative to the congested ports of Karachi and Gwadar, while Turkey strengthens its role as a Eurasian bridge. Iran will benefit from transit revenues and greater logistical integration with neighbouring countries. The project is linked to expanding strategic infrastructure such as Pakistan’s ML-1 line, part of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt & Road Initiative, and the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which could extend links towards Russia and Central Asia. According to forecasts shared by the three governments, the reopening of the service by the end of 2025 will be a decisive step towards building a more efficient Eurasian intermodal network, with possible future extensions to Kazakhstan and Russia through ongoing infrastructure upgrades.
Russian container traffic recovers
Container transport in Russia is showing signs of recovery despite international sanctions and the withdrawal of major global carriers. The ports of Vladivostok and Novorossiysk are reporting volumes above pre-2022 levels, while St Petersburg is also seeing gradual growth. Trade routes have been redirected towards non-Western partners, particularly China, the Middle East and South America, with the launch of direct services operated by Chinese, Turkish and Russian lines. This reorientation has reduced dependence on feeder services and supported a more autonomous network of exchanges. According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, this logistical adaptation has enabled Russia to maintain active container flows, strengthening its Pacific and Black Sea ports as new strategic hubs.
Border controls extended in Scandinavia
Sweden, Denmark and Norway have extended internal border controls until 11 May 2026, citing growing security threats ranging from terrorism to organised crime. In Sweden, controls apply to all land, sea and air borders, including that with Denmark, due to risks linked to Islamist radicalisation and foreign interference. Denmark justifies the move by the need to prevent acts of sabotage and terrorism, particularly of Russian origin or related to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, focusing checks on the German border. Norway is maintaining inspections at ports connecting the country to other Schengen states to protect energy infrastructure from potential Russian intelligence operations. Experts note that growing geopolitical tensions and criminal activity are putting pressure on the Schengen area. For freight transport, the consequences are tangible: longer transit times, higher operating costs and uncertainty in route planning.
New Sfax–Tangier–Valencia service
CMA CGM’s Short Sea Lines division has announced the launch of a new weekly service connecting Sfax (Tunisia) with Tangier (Morocco) and Valencia (Spain), coinciding with the start of the 2025–2026 Tunisian date export season. The service aims to enhance regional connectivity and offer Tunisian exporters faster access to international markets. Through the transhipment hubs of Tangier Med and Valencia CSP, customers will benefit from direct connections to major global destinations for both dry and refrigerated cargo. The first call at Sfax is scheduled for Wednesday, 29 October 2025, with a weekly rotation Sfax–Tangier–Valencia–Sfax. The service will also be linked to Casablanca via the group’s Morocco Shuttle (MOSHT) line. According to CMA CGM, this new route will provide a direct and reliable logistics solution, strengthening trade between North Africa and southern Europe while expanding the group’s short-sea network in the Mediterranean.
