The Loadstar

After weeks of disruption, Southeast Asia’s ports are slowly reopening following historic floods - but delays and backlogs still plague regional supply chains. In more positive news, seafarers from the MV Eternity C have finally been released, and carriers are starting to eye a return to the Suez Canal, with the Ocean Alliance restarting transits and CMA CGM signalling confidence with naval escorts and new services.  Meanwhile in the US, importers like Costco are racing to file refund claims ahead of a potential Supreme Court ruling that could overturn tariffs, raising the prospect of a lengthy and chaotic reimbursement process. And in the tech world, WiseTech’s surprise CargoWise overhaul has triggered industry outcry, with logistics providers accusing the software giant of rolling out major changes without warning right at the height of peak season.  Charlotte Goldstone, Gavin van Marle and Alex Lennane bring you the week’s essential freight headlines in one short and snappy podcast.

8 Des 24min

This week’s episode dives into the growing contrasts across global freight. In ocean shipping, Maersk has pushed back against claims of an imminent Suez Canal return — despite pressure from the Suez Canal Authority — leaving carriers and insurers guessing when routes might reopen.   Meanwhile, strikes in Belgium, ship fires in US ports, and record-low scrapping levels add to Europe’s congestion woes, as MSC piles on more transatlantic tonnage and Hapag-Lloyd invests in new feeder vessels.  Gavin van Marle unpacks the latest on ocean rates and why carriers are still betting big on capacity despite falling demand, while Alex Lennane brings updates from the air, from the return of UPS and USPS’s final-mile partnership to fears that the UK’s de minimis delay could turn it into an ecommerce “dumping ground”.  Plus, with Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday driving a short-lived “mini peak”, we look at how global airfreight demand is holding up, how Asia is powering through flooding disruptions, and whether Western Global’s struggles could mark the end of the MD-11 era.  It’s a busy week across air, sea and logistics — and this episode connects all the dots.

1 Des 20min

In this episode of The Loadstar Podcast we take you inside one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving regions in global trade: Africa. Host and news reporter Charlotte Goldstone is joined by Mohammed Akoojee CEO & MD of DP World Sub-Saharan Africa. Together, they unpack why Africa is emerging as one of the most important players in global logistics and what still needs to happen to unlock its full potential. Mr Akoojee reveals why Africa’s role in global trade is accelerating, the critical role infrastructure plays and where DP World is investing billions to aid Africa's logistics boom and benefit local communities. He also explains why intra-African trade lags behind cross-border trade in Europe and what is needed to drive this, plus gives listeners a glimpse into what the future of Africa's trade could look like once the Red Sea crisis and trade wars are resolved.  So, if you're curious about the rise of new consumer markets and how better logistics can transform a continent, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

27 Nov 26min

In this episode of News in Brief, The Loadstar team delves into the latest developments in the world of tariffs and refund issues, rail mergers, ecommerce and ocean rate dynamics.  In under 20 minutes, our award-winning journalists provide insights into how these topics - and many more -  could affect supply chains and consumer prices.  So, tune in now for a comprehensive overview of the week's most significant shifts, and to hear what to keep an eye on for the week ahead!  All the stories mentioned in this episode can be found on The Loadstar's website.

23 Nov 19min

New CTS data shows just how deeply tariffs have hit US trade and Indian airfreight volumes, as Southeast Asia surges ahead under the China + 1 strategy. The Loadstar team unpacks the numbers — and what they mean for rates, resilience, and rerouted cargo. As the US Supreme Court takes on Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy, tension builds over whether refunds will ever materialize. Meanwhile, signs of peace in the Red Sea have carriers eyeing a return to Suez — but with overcapacity already looming, could that just make the freight picture murkier? And what will this mean for airfreight? Plus, we look at booming trade through Southeast Asia, MSC’s fruit-fueled pivot to South Africa, and the EU’s new vote to end de minimis. All that and the best of Loadstar Premium — from California trucking chaos to “Wonder Jim” at Union Pacific — in this packed global round-up.

16 Nov 17min

This week, the shipping industry hits new highs and new headaches.   MSC’s record 7m teu fleet cements its dominance, while Maersk eyes fresh megaship orders amid warnings of a looming capacity glut that could stretch to 2030. Gavin van Marle breaks down the latest rate moves, the growing talk of rate wars, and what Q3 results reveal about carriers’ financial standing  While in air cargo, Alex Lennane reports from TIACA’s Air Cargo Forum in Abu Dhabi with exclusive insights from Etihad Cargo.  She also digs into Europe’s latest ecommerce crackdown with France grounding Shein imports and Cainiao pausing expansion in Liège, plus how a prolonged US government shutdown could soon clip flight capacity.  From ocean overcapacity to airfreight uncertainty, this week’s episode keeps you up to date with the latest news across global logistics.

10 Nov 16min

It’s been a week of turmoil — and tentative relief — across global trade. Hurricane Melissa brought chaos to the Caribbean but spared Jamaica’s vital Kingston terminal, while in Asia, the fallout from Dhaka’s cargo village fire continues to snarl Bangladesh’s garment exports. Meanwhile, hopes for Red Sea stability were dashed as Israel resumed airstrikes in Gaza.  Host and news reporter Charlotte Goldstone brings you the most important points of these stories to get you up to date with the news ahead of a new week.   And there’s a flicker of good news: Washington and Beijing have agreed to suspend their port call fees for a year, softening trade tensions and cutting “fentanyl tariffs” by 10%. Gavin van Marle joins to unpack the toll tariffs have already taken on US port volumes and whether rate rises can last after weeks of GRI-driven recovery.  Alex Lennane steps in to discuss the latest in air cargo, from Chicago Rockford’s new partnership with Liège to the early signs of the Christmas peak and a new US plan to ban belly cargo from Mexico City. She then chats to Ms Goldstone about UPS’s mixed earnings,   All that, plus a look ahead to a pivotal week as the US Supreme Court tackles tariffs and The Loadstar team hits the road for the Air Cargo Forum in Abu Dhabi.

2 Nov 19min

In this epsiode of news in brief, hear how the one-year delay to the IMOs net-zero measures has set the stage for conflicting national rules, and how hopes of a return to Suez Canal transits threaten to swamp Europe’s ports with redirected cargo.  Gavin van Marle breaks down whether recent GRIs are holding and what the first Q3 earnings reports from forwarding giants reveal about a volatile year.   Then, Alex Lennane joins to unpack air cargo’s peak-season signals, the continuing fallout from the US de minimis exemption, and a spate of aviation incidents that underscore the sector’s safety challenges.  If you want a snapshot of all the goings-on in supply chains and where the news might be headed next, this is the podcast for you.

26 Okt 17min