The Loadstar

Korean Air is preparing to reshape its cargo operation around a bigger passenger network, upgraded handling infrastructure, and what it sees as a growing transpacific flow of technology and data-centre equipment. The airline, due to complete its integration with Asiana Airlines on 17 December, told The Loadstar the enlarged passenger fleet would provide additional belly capacity, while its large-freighter network continued to handle heavier and more specialised cargo.

Port of New York/New Jersey Indices appear uncertain how to price spot rates this week, but what seems clear is that the Asia-US East Coast trade’s substantive growth trajectory of recent weeks has hit a bump – the question is whether this is a blip or something more transformative.

CMA CGM has postponed its $150 per teu Low Water Surcharge on cargo moving from South America’s west coast through the Panama Canal, where more restrictions on draught and transits are expected. The French carrier had announced the surcharge would take effect on 1 September, but told customers yesterday it was pushing the start date back to 1 October.

Legal costs from the US indictment of Chinese container-maker Singamas and its chairman and CEO, Teo Siong Seng (pictured), are expected to impact the company’s 2026 earnings. Hong Kong-listed Singamas said the US Department of Justice proceedings would hit profitability just as the container business was already under significant pressure.

Singapore is making clear that its position as one of Asia’s biggest transhipment and trading hubs does not extend to helping exporters disguise the Chinese origin of goods to circumvent US tariffs. Deputy PM and trade minister Gan Kim Yong (pictured) said Singapore did not support the use of its trade and logistics infrastructure to bypass tariffs, as the city-state seeks to address US allegations over the rerouting of China-made goods through third countries.

D 209753604 © Александр Марко | Dreamstime.com Key takeaway: BCG says just 13% of logistics firms see real returns from AI. But this week’s crop of deployments suggests the winners aren’t chasing grand visions, they’re automating the boring stuff. The gap between what logistics executives say about artificial intelligence and what they can actually show for it has become difficult to ignore.

ID 28158778 © Haywiremedia | Dreamstime.com When DSV completed its acquisition of DB Schenker in April 2025, nobody expected a leisurely integration. The Danish forwarder has built much of its reputation – and considerable shareholder value in the past – on buying large logistics businesses, integrating them rapidly and extracting synergies with remarkable discipline. Yet the Schenker transaction is in another league.

ID 381036279 © Hello33533 | Dreamstime.com Singapore-based Apex Logistics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kuehne+Nagel (K+N), is being investigated by the US authorities over its suspected role in supplying AI chips to China. The news broke earlier today with Bloomberg citing sources familiar with the matter. Since 2022, the US has placed restrictions on the sale of high-end AI chips to China.

At around 11pm local time last night, a DHL cargo plane made an emergency landing at LA Airport. Flames could be seen on the tyres of the aircraft as it touched down after leaving Phoenix, Arizona. Emergency crews rushed to the aircraft, forcing one of the runways to temporarily close. The cause of the fire on the aircraft is not yet known, and it is believed that no one has been injured.

MSC is blanking two sailings on its Asia-US west coast network as the carrier anticipates weaker demand around and after China’s Golden Week holiday.