Maritime Mood Monitoring: Key Trends Shaping Global Trade & Logistics This Week

🧭 TL;DR (WEEK OF Sep 15–22, 2025)

Rates notch a 14th weekly drop: Global WCI fell 6% week-on-week to ~$1,913/FEU with SCFI and CCFI also lower; GRIs show limited traction.
Panama’s ‘energy corridor’ moves: The Canal Authority launched the concession process for an LPG pipeline across Panama (selection targeted for late 2026; build penciled for 2027).
Parcel cost alert for Q4: UPS announced peak-season surcharges on US import/export services through Jan 17, 2026—relevant for air/parcel legs and LCL/express adjacencies.
Ports & equipment upgrades: APM Barcelona commits €156m to handle two ULCS simultaneously; Johor Port adds two new STS cranes; TTI orders two PACECO STS cranes in Long Beach.

📊 Maritime Mood Index

Score: 5.2 / 10 — Softer rates, steady risk, infrastructure tailwinds

Security Risk (→): No new global chokepoint closures; routine advisories persist.
Rate Dynamics (↓): Fourteenth consecutive composite decline; Asia–Europe leads softness while transpacific GRIs underwhelm.
Operational Disruptions (→/↑): Localized works/commissioning (Barcelona, Johor); LB dwell steady in the 4–8 day range.
Policy Pressure (↑): Panama pipeline tender process (routing economics); UPS peak surcharges lift landed costs on parcel/air adjacencies.
Innovation & Infrastructure (↑): Terminal upgrades and crane orders; alternative-fuel orderbook continues to swell; LNG fleet growth plans.

Interpretation: Rate floors remain elusive as indices weaken again, but the week’s signal skews medium-term constructive: capacity investments, equipment orders, and energy logistics projects point to resiliency even as Q4 cost structures tighten via parcel surcharges. Keep RFQs short-dated, screen routings for works/commissioning windows, and monitor pipeline milestones that could reshape gas flows and slot availability over the next 18–36 months.

🚨 Top Headlines to Watch (Sep 15–22, 2025)

Theme	Key Development	Operational Relevance
Spot Rates	WCI fell to ~$1,913/FEU (−6% WoW); SCFI slid to ~1,198; CCFI eased to ~1,120.	Hold RFQs open with shorter validity; GRIs show mixed stickiness by lane.
Panama Energy Corridor	ACP launched the concession process for an LPG pipeline; bidder shortlisting in 2026; construction penciled for 2027.	Medium-term: could shift LPG/LNG routings and indirectly free canal capacity.
Peak-Season Surcharges	UPS adds per-lb/per-pkg surcharges on certain US import/export services through Jan 17, 2026.	Recalculate landed cost for air/parcel legs; expect knock-on to expedited/LCL.
Spain — APM Barcelona	€156m modernization (quay deepening, new STS rails, OPS prep) to handle two ULCS simultaneously.	Expect phased works and occasional berth constraints; plan windows and feeders early.
Malaysia — Johor Port	Two new ZPMC STS cranes delivered; 45-day site acceptance testing before commissioning; Aug TEU record.	Incremental productivity gains into Q4; monitor go-live dates by service string.
US — Long Beach (TTI)	TTI orders two PACECO ship-to-shore cranes with US-made components (Japan build).	Future berth productivity lift; potential tariff cost at delivery factors into terminal CAPEX.
Fleet/ESG	Alt-fuel container orderbook reaches 534 ships (53% of ships; 77% of TEU on order). NYK targets ~50% LNG fleet growth by 2029.	Plan bunker/fuel procurement strategies; watch corridor pilots and retrofit economics.

📊 Market Movements

Container Rates: Fourteenth Weekly Dip; GRIs Lose Lift

Global composite spot fell another 6% to the high-$1,800s/low-$1,900s per FEU, with Asia–Europe headwinds outweighing selective GRIs on the transpacific. Shanghai’s export indices corroborate the softer tone as carriers lean on blankings and ad hoc capacity moves.

Global (WCI): ~$1,913/FEU (−6% WoW) — 14th straight weekly decline.
SCFI (Shanghai export spot): ~1,198 (down from ~1,398 prior week).
CCFI (China composite): ~1,120 (down ~0.5% WoW).
US Import Timing: LA front-loaded peak; Sept import forecast ~850k TEU (≈−10% YoY), implying softer late-Q3 sailings.

Regional Port Conditions

Port	Trend	Driver	Takeaway
Barcelona (ES)	Phased civil works begin	€156m upgrade; STS rail works; quay deepening; OPS prep	Expect intermittent berth limits; book feeders/barge windows early
Johor (MY)	Commissioning underway	Two new STS cranes; ~45-day SAT before go-live	Productivity lift into Q4; confirm terminal allocations per string
Los Angeles / Long Beach (US)	Dwell steady	LB local-import dwell ~4–8 days; LBCT gate turns ~45–50 min	Prioritize early pickups; stage empties; align rail reservations
Shanghai / Shekou (CN)	Short waits	Vessel bunching post-typhoon closures	Plan 2–3 day buffers; protect transshipment cutoffs

⚠️ Operational Disruptions

India — Mundra & Kandla (Status Update)

Regional transporter strike that began on Sep 12 was called off mid-week following assurances on road repairs and temporary toll relief. Residual backlogs are possible as inland flows normalize.

Status: Strike withdrawn; cargo movements resuming.
Driver: Road condition grievances; “No Road, No Toll” action suspended after talks.
Action: Rebook missed gates; extend free time buffers where available; check ICD and rail slot availability.

Spain — Barcelona (Works Windows)

Modernization works at APM Barcelona may temporarily constrain berths as rails are replaced and quay sections are deepened. Expect occasional schedule reshuffles while crane rails and OPS infrastructure are installed.

Status: Works started; terminal remains operational.
Driver: Capacity and electrification upgrades to support two ULCS alongside.
Action: Lock feeder/barging early; add 24–48h buffers for near-term calls.

US — LA/LB (Dwell Management)

Local-import dwell at Long Beach remains in the 4–8 day range with steady gate performance at LBCT. Keep chassis turns tight and coordinate rail reservations to avoid last-mile congestion.

Status: Complex fully open; no systemic incident-related pauses.
Driver: Early peak front-loading and yard balancing.
Action: Prioritize early pickups; align empties; monitor terminal appointment releases.

🛠 Innovation & Infrastructure

APM Terminals Barcelona: €156m Modernization

First-phase contract signed to deepen quay sections, renew STS rails, and prepare for shore power—enabling two ULCS alongside and improving energy efficiency.

Johor Port: New STS Cranes + Record Month

Two Post-Panamax STS cranes arrived; commissioning through ~45 days of site acceptance testing. August throughput hit a port record, signaling demand resilience.

Long Beach (TTI): Two New PACECO STS on Order

TTI’s order includes US-made components with Japan build; cranes sized for 24,000 TEU-class vessels—supporting future berth productivity and ship choice.

Decarb Watch: Alt-Fuel Orderbook & LNG Growth

Alt-fuel-capable containerships on order reached 534 units (53% of ships; 77% of TEU on order). Separately, NYK plans to expand its LNG carrier fleet by ~50% by 2029, underscoring gas logistics demand.

📚 Sources & Reference Links

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