International Maritime & Trade Finance Policy Council

Reederei F. Laeisz CEO Nikolaus H. Schües stresses collaboration in shipping's energy transition. “Owners are willing to spend to save because payback is quicker in today's market,” he tells Maritime Cargo Chronicles exclusively. Schües, also past BIMCO president, discusses how regulations and fuel costs drive investments in efficient vessels and green technologies. “Smarter control systems and hybrids are essential for emissions cuts and cost savings,” he says. For 2026, he

BW LPG CEO Klaus Nyborg emphasizes the resilience of the LPG carrier market amid 2025 volatility. “Despite global challenges, we're seeing strong demand and fleet optimization paying off,” he says in an exclusive interview with Maritime Cargo Chronicles. Nyborg highlights how higher fuel costs and regulations are pushing owners to invest in efficient vessels and green technologies. “The payback on upgrades is faster, justifying spend-to-save decisions,” he notes. For 2026, he

**Global Maritime Breaking News – December 25, 2025** Major update: Suez Canal transits have surged 35%+ in the past month, reaching near pre-Houthi attack levels as carriers fully resume the route following the ongoing pause in attacks. Key Highlights: - Maersk, MSC, and CMA CGM confirm full Suez routing, cutting transit times by 10-12 days vs. Cape of Good Hope. - VLCC and container rates stabilizing with increased availability. - Global crude markets steady as Red Sea calm

**East Africa Cargo Movements News – December 23, 2025** East Africa's cargo trade is rebounding, with Dar es Salaam Port resuming full operations after November's shutdown due to unrest, which halted all vessel movements. Delays linger for Dubai to East Africa shipments, mainly containers and breakbulk. Mtwara Port maintains steady bulk exports like bauxite to China and cashews to India. A new general cargo route from China's Yantai Port to East Africa launched in October, e

**Maritime & Global Markets Breaking News – December 23, 2025** The NASDAQ has fallen **20%** in a single session, triggering circuit breakers and sparking widespread panic selling across world markets. Key Impacts: - Dow Jones down 15%, S&P 500 down 18% – worst single-day drop since 1987. - Asian markets (Nikkei, Hang Seng) open sharply lower; European indices expected to follow. - Shipping & commodity sectors hit hard: VLCC rates dip, bulk freight (bauxite, coal) futures sl

*Bauxite Shipment News – December 22, 2025** Guinea's bauxite exports to China continue to surge, with over 139 million tons shipped through September 2025. A major **600,000 MT bauxite cargo** from West Africa (likely Kamsar) to China is now in play, using Capesize vessels. MAKM International Inc., a credible and expanding bulk commodity player with expertise in rock salt and fluorspar trades, is actively pursuing this high-value contract. With a planned 25-vessel fleet acqu

**VLCC Chartering News – December 22, 2025** VLCC spot rates have climbed to WS 70-80 on the Middle East Gulf to China route, up 20% in the past week, fueled by robust Chinese winter crude stockpiling and seasonal demand. Key Factors: - Suez Canal transits returning to normal, increasing vessel availability. - Sanctions on shadow fleets (e.g., Venezuela) continue to reduce effective tonnage supply. - Average TCE earnings now exceed $60,000/day, with some fixtures reaching $70

**Maritime Industry Breaking News – December 22, 2025** The U.S. Navy has seized **two additional shadow fleet tankers** in the Caribbean as part of President Trump's total blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan oil vessels. Over 50 tankers are now stalled, severely disrupting PDVSA exports. Meanwhile, **Red Sea & Suez Canal traffic** has surged 30%+ in recent weeks as major carriers resume the route after the Houthi pause, reducing transit times and costs. Key Impacts: - Venezuel

Maritime Industry Breaking News – December 21, 2025 The U.S. Navy has seized two additional shadow fleet tankers in the Caribbean as part of President Trump's total blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan oil vessels. Over 50 tankers are now stalled, severely disrupting PDVSA exports. Meanwhile, Red Sea & Suez Canal traffic has returned to near pre-crisis levels after the Houthi pause in attacks, with major liners resuming Suez routes and reducing costs. Key Impacts: - Venezuela:

World Maritime News Roundup – December 21, 2025 Key global shipping stories this week: 1. Red Sea & Suez Canal: Transits return to near pre-crisis levels after Houthi pause. Major carriers (Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM) resume Suez route, reducing transit times and costs. 2. Venezuela Tanker Blockade: U.S. Navy seizes two more shadow fleet vessels (latest: MT Pacific Glory, 1.2M barrels Merey crude). Over 40 tankers remain anchored, severely disrupting PDVSA exports. 3. China Ports D

China Shipping News – December 20, 2025 China remains the world's largest maritime power, with unprecedented growth in ports and shipbuilding. Key Highlights: - COSCO Shipping: Record 28.9 million TEUs handled in 2025 (+9.2% YoY). - Major ports: Over 300 million TEUs total, Shanghai exceeds 50 million TEUs. - Shipbuilding: China holds 55% of global newbuild orders, focusing on green technology. - Belt and Road: New routes to Africa & Latin America drive export growth. China's

Pakistan Shipping & Cargo News – December 19, 2025 Pakistan's ports are gaining momentum despite global headwinds. Key Highlights: - Karachi & Port Qasim: ~90M tonnes cargo in first 8 months FY25 (+6-7%). - Container volumes: +12% to ~3.2M TEUs. - Gwadar: $1.5B investment announced for new berths & free zone. - New policies for green shipping and private investment. Pakistan is strengthening its role in regional trade. For cargo opportunities or fleet chartering: Contact MAKM

India Cargo & Shipping News – December 19, 2025 India's maritime sector remains robust, with major ports showing steady growth amid global disruptions. Highlights: - Major ports: ~72.2 million tonnes in December 2024 (latest), +3.2% YoY; FY25 total ~855 million tonnes (+4.4%). - Container volumes up 11% to 351 million tonnes in FY25. - JNPA: Record 7.3 million TEUs in FY25 (+13.55%). - Mundra & Adani Ports: New ICDs and expansions boost South India connectivity. - DP World: $

Dubai Shipping Update – December 19, 2025 Dubai continues to solidify its position as a global maritime hub. DP World reported a record-breaking performance at Jebel Ali Port, handling 15.9 million TEUs in the first 11 months of 2025 — a 4.6% increase year-on-year. Key highlights: - November 2025: Highest monthly throughput ever at 1.5 million TEUs . - Strong growth driven by Asia-Europe and intra-Asia trade, despite regional disruptions. - Dubai Maritime City expansion: $1.

Breaking International Shipping News – December 19, 2025 President Donald Trump has ordered a "total and complete blockade" of all U.S.-sanctioned oil tankers in/out of Venezuela, designating the Maduro regime a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Key Developments: Builds on recent seizure of tanker Skipper (2M barrels Merey crude) and new sanctions on vessels/family members. Targets ~30+ shadow fleet tankers in Caribbean; exports sharply down, loaded ships stalled. Venezuela v

Lebanon Maritime News – Beirut Port Focus (December 18, 2025) Lebanon's flagship Port of Beirut continues to show resilience and growth in late 2025. Despite ongoing regional tensions and the lingering effects of the 2020 explosion, operations are robust: Key Updates: Active Traffic : Real-time data shows 12 vessels arrived in the past 24 hours, with 6 more expected soon. The port handles ~1M TEU/year and serves as a vital Eastern Mediterranean hub. 2025 Performance : Strong

International Maritime News – Middle East Focus (December 18, 2025) Good news for global shipping: The Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait are seeing a significant increase in transits after Yemen's Houthis signaled a halt to attacks on commercial vessels. Linked to the ongoing Gaza ceasefire (since October), the group paused strikes in November—marking the quietest period since late 2023. Key Highlights: Bab el-Mandeb transits hit their highest levels since the Red Sea crisis

In a dramatic escalation, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on December 16-17 a "total and complete blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela . This targets the shadow fleet carrying PDVSA crude (mainly Merey 16), following the recent seizure of the tanker Skipper (loaded with ~1.8-2M barrels). Key Impacts: Most non-Chevron exports stalled – dozens of tankers anchored in Venezuelan waters, fearing interdiction. Shadow fleet operations (AIS spo

Ahoy, maritime community! Maritime Cargo Chronicles launches today, bringing you daily updates on tanker movements, cargo opportunities, fleet availabilities, and breaking shipping news—from Venezuela's export challenges to Asia-Europe rate surges. We'll cover open tonnage, shadow fleet insights, port disruptions, and exclusive stories on scaling shipping businesses (including MAKM International Inc's bold push toward billion- and trillion-dollar operations). First spotlight

Date: 4 November 2025 Source Adaptation: Maritime Cargo Chronicle | Industry Monitoring Desk A serious maritime incident has unfolded off the coast of central Vietnam, where the Liberian-flagged Capesize bulk carrier Star Bueno (178,978 DWT) grounded during severe weather conditions, triggering flooding concerns and drawing urgent attention from Vietnamese maritime authorities as Typhoon Kalmaegi advances toward the same region. Incident Overview According to official con