Welcome back to Container Bytes! I’m Julia Frohwein, powering through being a bit "under the weather" this week alongside our resident freight expert Judah Levine to unpack a highly volatile session. 📍 The Persian Gulf conflict is intensifying, and while peace negotiations continue, ocean freight has officially hit the panic button on early Peak Season demand.

In this episode, we break down the massive June 1st rate explosion. Spot rates didn't just tick up—they skyrocketed by $1,000 to $1,800 per container in a single week. Shippers are aggressively front-loading volumes ahead of the massive July BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor) hikes, resulting in space shortages, capped allocations, and forced premium fees. Transpacific rates have surged to $4,800/FEU to the West Coast and $6,000/FEU to the East Coast, while Asia-Europe has completely surpassed last year's peak highs.

We also look at a bombshell legal twist in the trade war: The White House has officially challenged the $166 Billion IEEPA tariff refund order. If your previous customs entries have already been "liquidated," the government is saying they won't pay you back unless you sue them directly.

Finally, we look at the newly released USTR Section 301 report targeting forced labor inputs, proposing fresh 10% to 12.5% tariffs on a massive list of global trading partners including the EU, Canada, Mexico, India, and China to replace the expiring July stopgap.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Powering Through: Julia's British "under the weather" opener. 
• 00:01:00 — June 1st Rate Explosion: The $1,800 week-on-week spot spike. 
• 00:01:45 — Capped Allocations: Why contract shippers are crowding out the spot market. 
• 00:02:15 — The BAF Front-Loading Strategy: Racing the July quarterly adjustment. 
• 00:03:15 — The $166B Refund Fight: Unliquidated vs. Liquidated entries explained. 
• 00:06:00 — Section 122 Ticking Clock: The global 10% tariff expires in July. 
• 00:06:45 — The USTR Shell Over: The new Section 301 forced labor tariff list.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! I’m Julia Frohwein, joined by our resident freight guru Judah Levine to unpack another high-velocity week in global shipping. While rumors of a negotiated end to the war have ships in the Persian Gulf optimistically drifting toward the Strait of Hormuz, experts warn that infrastructure damage means a fuel price hangover could last well into next year.

In this episode, we tackle the sudden, early arrival of Peak Season. Asia-North Europe rates have climbed back to their wartime high of $2,900/container, while Asia-Med rates exploded by 20% last week to $4,400. Shippers are aggressively front-loading cargo for two massive reasons: lingering Red Sea diversions and a desperate race to beat the July BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor) hikes.

Over in the Transpacific, a surprise leak reveals that Amazon is moving Prime Day up to June. This single e-commerce curveball has triggered an early peak season avalanche, sending West Coast rates to $2,800/FEU and East Coast rates to $4,300/FEU, with carriers already salivating over $2,000 June GRIs.

Finally, we look at the jet fuel crisis that didn't happen. Despite the IEA’s warning six weeks ago that Europe would run dry, a mix of alternative production and radical flight cuts has stabilized the skies.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Hormuz Optimism: The literal bottleneck traffic jam. 
• 00:01:30 — The Refined Oil Hangover: Why fuel costs aren't dropping anytime soon. 
• 00:02:15 — The July BAF Cliff: The contracted shipper's ticking clock. 
• 00:03:00 — Med Rates Explode: A 20% spike signals early peak season. 
• 00:04:15 — The Prime Day Factor: Amazon moves the needle to June. 
• 00:05:45 — The Air Crisis That Wasn't: Defying the IEA's fuel starvation warning. 
• 00:07:00 — AI Hardware & E-commerce: The new pillars of resilient air cargo demand.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! I’m Julia Frohwein, joined as always by our resident freight expert Judah Levine, ready to break down another high-stakes week in global logistics. 📍 The Strait of Hormuz remains tenser than ever, with a planned US retaliatory strike temporarily pushed off by President Trump while negotiations continue in the shadow of a crumbling ceasefire.

In this episode, we tackle the massive structural shift impacting Peak Season 2026. Because of ongoing Red Sea diversions, transit lead times are longer than ever. Shippers are realizing they have to move their peak season ocean cargo now—well ahead of China's Golden Week in October—or risk their goods arriving too late for winter shelves. We look at the June GRI attempts targeting an extra $2,000 per container.

Over on the air freight side, the panicky global rate spike has stabilized, but a reverse flow is catching shippers off guard: Middle East air lanes are seeing a massive demand comeback, sending rates from Southeast Asia to the Middle East climbing to a new high of $4.75/kg.

Finally, we track the countdown to Europe's new low-value e-commerce import fees coming this July and what the legacy of the US de minimis clampdown tells us about what's next.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Hormuz Standbox: Pushed-off attacks and the baseline reality. 
• 00:01:30 — The Golden Week Countdown: Why peak season is starting early for Asia-Europe. 
• 00:03:00 — Transpacific Check-In: $1,000 premiums and June GRI expectations. 
• 00:05:00 — Air Freight Stabilization: Plateauing global indexes vs. high fuel baselines. 
• 00:06:15 — The Middle East Squeeze: Why regional air cargo rates are skyrocketing. 
• 00:06:45 — The July Tariff Clock: Europe's €2 e-commerce fee and the de minimis blueprint.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, but it officially has a new "manager." 📍 This week, Julia Frohwein and Judah Levine dive into Iran’s creation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority—a move that signals a permanent intent to entrench authority over the passageway. While Operation Freedom managed to extract a few US-flagged vessels, the naval exchanges between the US and Iran have only added to the uncertainty.

In this episode, we break down Maersk’s $500M fuel bill. Carriers are facing massive cost pressures, and while the Transpacific is holding onto its rate gains, the Asia-Europe lanes are struggling to stay above pre-war levels during this "low demand" period. We also look at the NRF’s muted peak season forecast, projecting a July peak that is 8% lower than last year.

Finally, we tackle the latest trade war bombshell: The US Court of International Trade has invalidated Section 122 tariffs. Just as the IEEPA refunds are getting underway, a new door for tariff refunds has swung wide open.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Operation Freedom & The New Persian Gulf Strait Authority. 
• 00:01:30 — Maersk’s Earnings: The $500 Million monthly fuel surcharge reality. 
• 00:02:45 — Ocean Rate Divergence: Transpacific gains vs. Asia-Europe stagnation. 
• 00:03:45 — Muted Peak: Why the July "bump" might be a disappointment. 
• 00:05:30 — Trade War Wrinkle: Section 122 invalidated and the refund precedent. 
• 00:08:00 — Subscribe: Join the Container Bytes community.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! I’m Julia Frohwein, and I’m back with Judah Levine to break down a week that felt like a decade. We’re diving into the rapid-fire timeline of Project Freedom—the US-led effort to force transit through the Strait of Hormuz that resulted in naval skirmishes and was suspended almost as quickly as it began.

In this episode, we analyze why ocean rates are proving remarkably "sticky" despite the low-demand slow season. While Asia-Europe rates are hovering near pre-war levels, the Transpacific has seen a 50% gain since the conflict started, holding onto a $1,000/container increase even without the Lunar New Year rush.

We also cover the "May 2nd Tease": the UAE fully reopened its airspace for exactly 24 hours before renewed attacks forced a shutdown until May 11th. We explore what this "start-stop" volatility means for Emirates, Etihad, and global air cargo benchmarks that remain 25% above pre-war levels.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Project Freedom: The 48-hour naval escalation. 
• 00:01:45 — The Oil Flow Problem: Why "escorts" aren't restoring the energy market. 
• 00:02:30 — Sticky Rates: Why the Transpacific is holding a 50% gain in a slow season. 
• 00:04:15 — Manufacturing Warning: Why slowing orders in Vietnam are the new "canary in the coal mine." 
• 00:06:00 — Airspace Whiplash: The UAE’s 24-hour opening and the May 11th closure. 
• 00:07:30 — Air Index Update: Why Middle East lanes are still hitting peak pricing ($3.90/kg). 

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome to a very special episode of Container Bites! If you’re wondering why Eytan suddenly has long brown hair and a British accent—don’t panic. 📍 I’m Julia Frohwein, and I’m thrilled to be taking over the mic. This week, Judah and I dive into the "Quiet Crisis." The ceasefire is holding, but with the Strait of Hormuz still closed and the US blockade in place, oil prices are creeping back up.

We break down why Asia-Europe ocean rates are hitting a stubborn floor—50% higher than October levels—despite the seasonal lull. We also look at the high-stakes game in the skies: Lufthansa and KLM are scrapping thousands of flights to conserve fuel, and the EU is already drawing up a "Mandatory Jet Fuel Sharing Plan" to prevent a regional blackout.

Plus, we discuss why Maersk is struggling to guarantee export services out of the Gulf and how Gemini is doubling down on Jeddah as the ultimate land-bridge fallback.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Meet the New Voice: Julia takes the helm. 
• 00:01:00 — The Gulf Strain: Maersk’s export warning and the Jeddah pivot. 
• 00:02:30 — Ocean Rate Split: Why the Transpacific is winning the rate hike war. 
• 00:04:15 — Peak Season Anxiety: Will high energy costs kill consumer demand? 
• 00:06:00 — The Air Cargo "Club": Lufthansa, KLM, and the 20,000-flight cull. 
• 00:07:00 — Europe’s Fuel Stash: The EU’s emergency sharing proposal. 
• 00:08:30 — Air Index Update: Why Southeast Asia to Europe is still climbing.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Get your freight emergency kits ready, because the fuel market is bordering on absolute chaos. 

Between the IRGC boarding container ships in the Strait of Hormuz and Lufthansa slashing 20,000 flights due to fuel concerns,  capacity is getting squeezed from both ends. 

While jet fuel prices have dipped slightly from their March peak, the real ghost in the machine is availability. Europe might only have six weeks of jet fuel left in the tank, making "seasonal trends" look about as relevant as a VCR manual in 2026.

But it’s not all doom and gloom—unless you hate money. US importers are finally seeing the "CAPE" portal open for IEEPA tariff refunds. It might take 90 days to see the cash, but in a market where Transpacific rates are $800 higher than pre-war levels during what should be the "quiet" season, every cent of cash flow helps.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Get your freight Christmas sweater on (yes, even in April), because the Straits of Hormuz are getting chilly🥁. 

We’re diving into why the Hormuz blockade(ish) your ocean rates are staying surprisingly grounded while jet fuel prices are pulling an Artemis II.

Judah explains the "Inverse Crisis Correlation"-  we have so many ships due to overcapacity that even a Middle East blockade can't kick rates into high gear. 

Meanwhile, air cargo is feeling the heat as jet fuel prices double, causing airlines to slash flights faster than my kids lose their left shoes. 

Also...refunds!

The IEEPA refund portal is finally opening, and Uncle Sam owes you some lunch money.

Get the full April monthly deepdive here https://www.freightos.com/logistics-technology-insights/industry-updates/global-freight-outlook-april-2026/

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Better late than never. 

Hope your supply chain is holding up better than my audio equipment. 

The ceasefire news is hogging the headlines, but don't let the noise fool you;the Straits of Hormuz are still effectively a "no-go" zone for container ships. While carriers like CMA CGM and COSCO are trickling a few vessels out, nobody is exactly rushing back in. 

Ocean rates are staying surprisingly soft at around $2,500 for Transpacific lanes due to a massive ghost of overcapacity. Meanwhile, Air Cargo is getting absolutely pummeled, with South Asia to Europe rates spiking 60% to over $4.00/kg. It’s a tale of two markets: one is floating on a sea of extra ships, and the other is running out of jet fuel.

I’m not crying about these air rates. You are. (Actually, we both are). If we don't see fuel availability stabilize in hubs like Singapore soon, we might all be shipping via carrier pigeon.

Chapters: 

00:00 — Microphone Malfunctions and Strait Talk 

01:15 — The "Hostage" Ships: Who is actually getting out?

03:45 — The GRI Bluff: Why $6,000 rates aren't happening 

05:30 — Overcapacity: The only thing keeping ocean rates alive 

08:15 — Air Cargo's 60% Nightmare: Fuel, Flights, and Fumes

11:00 — Singapore’s Fuel Clock: 30 days and counting

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

The Supreme Court  tossed IEEPA tariffs out, but don't pop the champagne just yet. The White House pivoted with a (temporary-ish) 10% global tariff under Section 122 just four days later. It's currently sitting well below the 15% to 20% ranges we saw previously, but with the July expiration date looming, the USTR is sprinting through 122 new trade investigations.

The billion-dollar question: how do you actually get your IEEPA refund? 

CBP is launching the CAPE portal mid-April, but you can't just ask for your money back; your customs entry has to be completely "liquidated" first. 

That means you're waiting at least a full year from the import date. (I’m not crying - you are).

And... the Importer of Record is the only one cashing that check! If you didn't pay customs directly, the cash isn't trickling down your supply chain. 

Adam Lewis from Clearit Customs Brokers joins Judah Levine to break down the exact paperwork you need, who actually qualifies, and why the government's "automated" portal still involves a massive manual review bottleneck.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.