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Ocean and Key Ports Update

The situation in the Middle East remains unpredictable; and despite Iran and the US reportedly moving towards a peace deal, strikes continue and shipping conditions in the Strait of Hormuz are not yet showing significant signs of improvement. Maersk’s priority remains the safety of our personnel, assets, and customer cargo, and we will continue to operate with heightened caution at this time. Please visit our dedicated Middle East Situation page for the latest updates in and around the region.

Elsewhere, Maersk has launched a new service to strengthen connectivity between North Europe, Italy, and Egypt. The Baltic Sea - SLA service links Gdansk, Bremerhaven, and Genoa (Vado Ligure) with both Port Said and Alexandria, offering a direct routing into Egypt and the wider East Mediterranean. By reducing reliance on indirect routings, the service is expected to shorten transit times and offer greater reliability over complicated alternatives. Read more about it here.

On the terminal side, a number of key gateways are experiencing high yard density levels for dangerous goods, including at Rotterdam, Bremerhaven and Hamburg. Customers are kindly asked to please prioritise picking up dangerous cargo units as soon as possible, in order to ease any potential congestion.

In Belgium, Antwerp terminals are facing weather related disruption due to strong winds being forecast, and customers should be aware that operations may slow down depending on the impact. We will keep customers informed of any developments as soon as possible.

In the Netherlands, conditions at Rotterdam terminals remain particularly tight, with high yard utilisation, reduced crane availability and extended waiting times for barges and feeders. Several terminals are requesting urgent collection of import units to prevent further congestion.

To stay updated on the latest information on your cargo, you can receive ETA notifications for your cargo by signing up here.

Finally, as part of a series of ongoing regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in shipping, the United Kingdom has now confirmed the extension of its Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to domestic maritime activities, effective 1st July 2026. Customers are advised to factor this into planning for UK-connected supply chains. Find out more details here.

Logistics and Services Update

Rail operations out of Hamburg and Bremerhaven are currently impacted by infrastructure upgrades across the German rail network, which are limiting available track capacity and affecting inland connections. While rail services are continuing to operate, these constraints are creating delays on certain corridors and reducing overall network flexibility.

For customers, this may result in longer inland transit times and less predictable rail schedules, particularly on heavily used routes from North German gateways. To minimise disruption, customers are advised to plan for additional buffer time on rail moves and consider alternative inland options where possible. Maersk continues to monitor the situation closely and adjust planning to maintain cargo flow wherever possible.

For more information on ways to connect seamlessly with our rail, road, and barge solutions across Europe, please visit our Inland transportation services in Europe.

In air freight, disruption in the Middle East continues to have an impact on services between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Although WorldACD notes that there are now signs of a slow recovery, cancellations and re-routings have ultimately resulted in tighter space across multiple gateways.

Maersk has deployed a number of air and multimodal solutions in order to support customers through the disruption, including utilising stable hubs away from the Gulf to keep cargo moving. Please reach out to your local Maersk representative to discuss options.

On top of this, Maersk is continuing to expand its specialised air freight capabilities for pharmaceutical customers, with the introduction of a controlled air network between Europe and the US. This solution is designed to support both passive and active pharmaceutical shipments, ensuring full compliance with GDP requirements through end to end temperature control, monitoring, and handling standards. The service is aimed at providing greater reliability for high value, time sensitive healthcare cargo.

Plus, Maersk is also preparing to extend the controlled pharma network to Europe-China later this year. We will update customers with more information as soon as it becomes available, but please reach out to your local representative for further details.

Please click here to find helpful information about Maersk Air Cargo and our services to and from Europe.

Customs Update

From 1st July 2026, the EU will introduce a significant change to e commerce customs rules, removing the duty free threshold for low value goods. A flat €3 duty will apply per item within a shipment, meaning each individual tariff line in a parcel will be subject to the new charge. The scheme is intended as a transitional measure ahead of full customs duties being launched by 2028, and ripple effects are expected from its introduction.

For businesses shipping into the EU, this will have immediate implications for pricing, checkout processes and cost structures. Companies should act now to update consumer facing platforms, ensure duty calculations are correctly reflected at checkout and review whether the additional cost will be absorbed or passed on to end customers. Click here for more information.

At the same time, several broader regulatory and trade developments are shaping the operating environment. From June, digital ATA carnets will begin replacing paper versions across the EU, the UK, Norway and Switzerland, allowing temporary imports and exports of professional equipment and exhibition goods to be managed electronically, although a transition period will allow both formats. More here.

From July, Ireland will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with a focus on competitiveness and pragmatic engagement with the UK, particularly around post Brexit customs arrangements.

In parallel, the EU and United States have agreed to eliminate tariffs on a range of industrial goods, with preferential conditions also introduced for certain agricultural products, although these remain subject to safeguards. Businesses should monitor which product categories are affected, prepare for increased digitalisation requirements, and stay alert to potential changes in EU-UK and transatlantic trade conditions in the months ahead. Further details can be found here.

New regulations are continuing to be introduced regularly, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Global Trade and Customs Consultants if you require support with your customs operations.

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