Weekly Insight from Seabreeze Logistics: Stay Ahead in Freight

• Interest in larger tonnage picks up amid flurry of newbuild orders

Shipowners worldwide are ordering more large tonnage vessels—especially mid-to-ultra-large container ships and LNG carriers—driven by fleet renewal goals, decarbonization mandates, and recent freight rate gains. The global orderbook now exceeds 133 million CGT, with newbuild prices reaching record levels, up ~52% since 2020 and averaging around $90 million per ship. Asian shipyards are running out of capacity and commanding premium pricing, while carriers bet on green, fuel-efficient tonnage to meet future demand.

• Amazon Air Cargo Launches New Transpacific Route via Honolulu

Amazon Air Cargo has entered an interline agreement with South Korea’s Air Premia, launching the “Aloha Express” service from Incheon to Honolulu, with onward distribution to 45 U.S. cities including Atlanta, Miami, Houston, and New York. This partnership aims to reduce transit times and costs by up to 20%, leveraging Honolulu as a strategic transshipment hub between Asia and the U.S. mainland.

• Hauliers add surcharge for collections from congested London Gateway

UK hauliers have introduced a £150 per container surcharge for pickups at DP World’s London Gateway due to severe congestion. Ongoing delays, caused by power outages, crane shortages, and IT issues, are disrupting schedules and increasing operational costs. The surcharge aims to recover losses as backlogs continue.

• Avianca Cargo navigates a dual-track expansion strategy

Avianca Cargo is advancing a dual-track strategy, expanding its fleet with A330 P2F freighters and rebranding AeroUnion as Avianca Cargo Mexico. Simultaneously, it’s enhancing digital capabilities through integrations with CargoWise, WebCargo, and others—boosting booking efficiency, visibility, and sustainability.

• Yang Ming Targets East Coast South America

Taiwan’s Yang Ming is boosting its Far East to South America services by refreshing its existing SA3 route and launching a new SA5 loop in early May. The enhanced network will connect major Chinese ports (Shanghai, Qingdao, Ningbo), Singapore, and key East Coast South America ports including Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Paranagua, Itapoa, Navegantes, and Montevideo—offering customers expanded capacity and more flexible scheduling in the FE‑ECSA trade lane.