From February 22 to 28, 2026, the global shipping market absorbed three simultaneous shocks: a US-Israeli strike on Iran closed Hormuz, Panama ejected Hutchison, and container rates logged their seventh straight weekly decline
Between 25–31 January 2026, global shipping trends revealed an industry under pressure, as freight rates softened, carrier earnings deteriorated, fleet expansion accelerated, and geopolitical uncertainty reshaped routing, risk pricing, and strategic decision-making across liner markets
While traditional maritime chokepoints descend into chaos, the new Arctic Shipping Route offers a tantalisingly short 20-day voyage from China to Europe. It is a geopolitical and environmental spectacle in the making
Global shipping markets endured another week of volatility between September 20–27, as UNCTAD delivered sobering forecasts, Chinese shipyards defied US sanctions, and container rates plummeted ahead of Golden Week holidays
Washington revives its old neighborhood doctrine, casting China as a threat while Latin America weighs the costs of old alliances
China’s intervention in CK Hutchison’s $22.8 billion port sale could either reaffirm its control over strategic assets or shake global investor confidence. The stakes are high, and Beijing’s decision will have lasting effects
BlackRock’s $23 billion acquisition of key Panama Canal ports from CK Hutchison signals a strategic shift in global shipping control, intensifying U.S.-China competition over the world’s most vital maritime passage
When it comes to maritime power plays, China isn’t splashing about. It has subtly anchored its influence across Latin America, securing key ports near the Panama Canal—without firing a shot
gCaptain evaluates Trump’s early maritime policy moves, including Panama Canal tensions, offshore wind reversals, tariff threats, and the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico during the opening days of his second term
Donald Trump’s controversial statements about the Panama Canal have sparked global discussions. With historic ties to the U.S. and increasing Chinese influence, Panama’s strategic waterway is once again under scrutiny