News
Mail Traffic Disruption (Ingoing and Outgoing)
02.06.2026
Due to technical problems from our provider – ingoing and outgoing mails were sent with a delay of up to 3 hours.
To ensure the communication flow our IT enabled a workaround in the meantime.
As a result of that you might have received mails without a signature from us.
We will continue to closely monitor this situation and keep you updated about any further developments.
Current Ocean Freight Market Situation from Asia to Europe
The Far East Westbound (FEWB) ocean freight market from Asia to Europe is currently transitioning into a pre-peak season, due to various reasons.
- Blank Sailings: All ocean alliances have implemented a high volume of blank (canceled) sailings, triggering a severe space contraction where actual deployed capacity has occasionally hovered near 78% of standard levels.
- Equipment & Rollovers: Space constraints have caused container shortages at depots and terminals in Asian hubs. Shippers are experiencing an increase in structural cargo rollovers and deferred bookings.
- Suez vs. Cape Route Volatility: While selected carriers have attempted a tentative resumption of Suez Canal paths for specific service loops to save two weeks transit times, the majority of FEWB traffic remains heavily impacted by regional security disruptions.
- Fuel Cost Surcharges: The continuous reliance on long-haul Cape of Good Hope detours combined with rising marine fuel prices has forced carriers to replace base-rate flexibility with mandatory and volatile Emergency Bunker Surcharges (EBS)
- European Port Backlogs: Port congestion remains a factor. Schedule delays continue to cascade into North-West European hub ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp due to erratic vessel arrival slots resulting from the extended transit time.
- Higher demand: Besides all obstacles on the provider side the market situation develops also into higher demand from demand side with increasing number of bookings.
Due to above mentioned reasons and a very tense situation overall, Ocean liners are currently implementing General Rate Increasement (GRI) as well as the introduction of a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS).
Middle East Situation (02.03.2026)
Due to the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East we face massive disruptions in the international air freight and sea freight transport.
Air Freight
Several airspaces in the region are no-fly zones or are avoided. Especially the traffic over the Gulf region or transit connections between Europe and Asia are effected. The airlines which are usually operating in that area or have hubs there are effected the most. Based on the development, flights are cancelled, flight frequencies are reduced, routes are altered, or closing dates are changed. This leads to longer transit times, reduced capacities and increased risk of delays.
Ocean Freight
Effected sea areas are avoided. Some routes are changed for sailing around the Cape of Good Hope which extends the transit time. Several carriers announced and implemented or adjusted security respectively war risk surcharges.
Some carriers reserve the declining of new bookings for themselves to the effected destinations or routes (especially for dangerous goods or special equipment).
Please be informed that all already on-going transports, which are effected by these circumstances, require your further instruction on how to proceed.
All on-going transports are likely associated with additional costs, which are borne by the goods. We will inform you about those costs once they are advised to us. Our dedicated team will keep you informed about any status developments of your shipment.
For any new bookings which might be effected by these circumstances, for example because of the destination or transit to Middle East, we assume that you are aware of the associated risks and that Five Star Global Logistics (all offices worldwide) are not liable for any war-related events.
Five Star Global Logistics in Germany receives the status of AEO F as per 27.03.2025 by the German Customs Authorities.
This status is granted to companies which have been audited by customs authorities in regards to reliability, trustworthiness and security.
As AEO F we will be granted facilities for customs-related processes and faster handling, so we can focus even more on you and your business.
Limited insurance cover at the Red Sea (19.02.2024)
Due to the current situation at the Red Sea our transport insurance does no longer cover the following area
The sea area of the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and the southern region of the Red Sea is limited to the following areas
- in the northwest : by the Red Sea , southern to the 18th northern latitude
- in the northeast : from the Yemeni border at the geographic point with the coordinates 16‘38.5‘N, 53“6.5‘E to the point in the high sea with the coordinates 14’55‘N, 53’50‘E
- in the east : by the line in the high sea from the point with the coordinates 14“55‘N, 53“50‘E at the point with the coordinates 10“48‘N, 60‘15‘E to the point 6“45‘5, 48“45‘E
- in the southwest : by the Somali border from the geographic point with the coordinates 1“40‘5, 41“34‘E to the point in the high sea with the coordinates 6“45‘5, 48“45‘E