The situation in the Middle East continues to affect global shipping, while demand from Asia is continuing to increase and place further pressure on space and rates. Bangladesh shipments will pause during the upcoming Eid holiday closure.
Sea Freight Demand Continues to Rise
Talks around a longer-term agreement between the US and Iran remain unresolved, and normal vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz have still not resumed. As a result, oil prices remain under pressure and the effect is continuing to feed through into shipping fuel costs and related surcharges. Emergency fuel surcharges introduced by shipping lines remain in place and continue to be reviewed weekly, while bunker costs, along with inland and feeder charges, remain elevated.
At the same time, demand for shipments from Asia to Europe and the UK is continuing to increase. With carriers also blanking some sailings to manage capacity, available space is tightening further and this is placing upward pressure on rates.
From a service perspective, the overall position remains relatively stable. Arrivals are continuing to hold up well and we are not seeing any notable port congestion at present. However, the combination of stronger demand, reduced vessel capacity and continued fuel cost pressure is making the market more challenging, and we will continue to monitor developments closely.
Bangladesh Holiday Closure
Customers with shipments moving from Bangladesh should be aware of the upcoming Eid-Ul-Adha holiday period, one of the country’s major religious festivals.
From 25 May to 31 May 2026, Bangladesh will see a broad shutdown across commercial operations, including factories and customs, temporarily preventing shipments from moving. While some operations may resume from the start of June, a number of factories are expected to remain closed until 6 or 7 June following extended leave.
As a result, shipments from Bangladesh are likely to pause during this period, with some knock-on delays possible as operations resume.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your shipment, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team on 01376 533039 or email [email protected].
