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News in Brief Podcast| Week 44 | Port congestion, Suez returns and Transpacific capacity crunch

Watch the episode on YouTube and subscribe so you never miss an update! In this week's News in Brief, we look at the latest developments shaping global shipping and air cargo, from growing port congestion concerns to shifting capacity and geopolitical uncertainty. The Loadstar managing editor Gavin van Marle joins us fresh from the World Ports Conference in London to discuss the key talking points from the event, the latest concerns around potential disruption at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, and what the return of container services to the Suez Canal could mean for shipping rates and congestion. We also examine why the transpacific trade remains so lucrative for carriers. Then, new TIACA director general Mammen Tharakan joins us to discuss the air cargo market, including tight capacity and strong demand on the transpacific, the potential impact of returning Middle Eastern capacity, and how ongoing instability around the Strait of Hormuz is affecting market confidence and contracting decisions. From port disruption and Suez transits to the air cargo capacity crunch, we bring you up to speed on the stories driving the freight industry this week.

Bangkok cargo backlog spreads to exports as airlines restrict inbound freight

A backlog at Thai Airways' cargo warehouse at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi is disrupting imports and exports, prompting airlines to restrict Bangkok-bound freight. Airline accounts on Thursday reported more than 1,000 outstanding cargo lots and 700-800 pallets awaiting breakdown. Neither Thai Airways (TG) nor Airports of Thailand (AOT) has confirmed the current backlog or any recovery date. AOT said today it had allocated Warehouse 4 in the airport's free zone for oversized cargo, and was discussing additional space for international imports with Thai Airways and Customs. It was also working to improve shipment tracking, it added. Thai Airways acknowledged on Friday that rising inbound volumes had left large numbers of unit load devices (ULDs) awaiting breakdown and storage, delaying deliveries, and said it was adding staff and forklifts, seeking more space, and introducing a system to record cargo locations. Missing or inaccurate storage records have compounded the problem, according to the Thai Airfreight Forwarders Association, leaving agents unable to establish when shipments can be collected. Unprocessed cargo also ties up ULDs needed for subsequent flights. Thai Airways said it was prioritising shipments that arrived before 23 October while continuing to handle new arrivals. The Thai Chamber of Commerce warned that delays were raising costs and disrupting production and delivery schedules for manufacturers reliant on imported materials and components. Congested working areas and delayed ULD breakdown were now affecting exports too. Cathay Cargo has restricted Bangkok-bound freight at least until 15 November to intact ULDs that can be released without breakdown at destination, with exemptions for specified temperature-controlled and special cargo. The chamber said Singapore Airlines Cargo had also notified customers last week of temporary restrictions on certain shipments, citing disruption to ULD circulation and outbound handling. UK forwarder Beckchoice separately reported that a 3 November advisory from Thai Airways' Korea cargo office noted limited acceptance of some transit and Thailand-bound freight between 4-8 November to through or unitised ULDs. Warnings predate the latest restrictions. Teleport, Expeditors, and Geodis have all flagged congestion at the TG warehouse over the past two months, affecting inbound and outbound handling. In its latest regional air market update, Expeditors said TG had asked airlines to reduce inbound volumes and had restricted additional charters until further notice. An earlier briefing reported a request to cut inbound cargo by 50% through 7 November. Expeditors also reported longer queues for weighing and export handover at TG, as import breakdown delays prolonged export processing. At BFS, truck waiting times remained around 24 hours, despite some improvement following warehouse expansion. Time-sensitive manufacturing inputs are among the goods exposed. WICE Logistics executive Chudech Kongsunthorn told Thai publication The Standard that data centre and electronics investment was driving equipment imports, alongside shipments of semiconductor and electronic parts, medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals. Cargo normally released within 24 hours was taking days or, in some cases, weeks, he said. Export delays also threaten electronics and other airfreight staples, including fresh food, flowers, gems, and medical goods. The congestion comes amid continued demand growth on some routes: WorldACD recorded a 20% year-on-year increase in chargeable weight from Thailand to the US in the week to 1 November.

Hong Kong reviews river fees as mainland ports lure cargo away

Hong Kong is reviewing permit fees charged to river trade vessels as it seeks to maintain its port's competitiveness amid growing competition from mainland Chinese terminals in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The secretary for transport and logistics, Chan Mei-po, announced the review in a written reply to the Legislative Council on Wednesday. China-flagged vessels carry containers between ports in the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong, where cargo may be transferred to ocean-going vessels for onward shipment. Mainland Chinese ports offer incentives to attract inland waterway vessels carrying cargo, promising financial subsidies and exemptions from mandatory pilotage requirements. Hong Kong operates a multiple-entry permit scheme, allowing operators to make up to 10 port entries within a month for a fee equivalent to five single-entries - the "buy five, get five free" system. Ms Chan said: "The Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy proposes various measures to strengthen Hong Kong's position as a regional transhipment hub, including reviewing the permit fees charged to river trade vessels in order to maintain the competitiveness and attractiveness of the port to the industry. We have completed a preliminary review and are now discussing the matter with relevant departments, with the details to be released in due course." Laden container movements between Hong Kong and mainland China account for more than 40% of the territory's annual laden container throughput. But statistics show a decline in river cargo vessel arrivals and associated container volumes since 2023. The numbers cover vessels mainly berthing at Kwai Tsing Container Terminals. In 2023, there were 4,344 arrivals, handling 1.63m teu. By 2025, this had fallen to 3,519 arrivals and 1.52m teu. In the first seven months of 2026, there were 2,101 arrivals, handling 878,000 teu. Decades ago, Hong Kong was among the world's three busiest container ports. but mainland ports have overtaken the territory as Chinese exports surged and their port infrastructure was upgraded. Hong Kong handled 12.99m teu in 2025, down 5.1% year on year.