SOLUTION SPOTLIGHT
Station Spotlight: Dublin, Ireland
Ireland is one of the world's most important life sciences manufacturing hubs, and Dublin sits at its center, connecting pharmaceutical and medical technology supply chains to European and global markets through its international airport, port, and road network. Crane Worldwide Logistics has expanded its presence in the market with a new 90,000-square-foot pharma-grade warehouse and office facility designed for the storage and handling of temperature-sensitive and high-value products. The facility offers 15,190 euro-pallet positions across two fully temperature-controlled chambers, very-narrow-aisle racking, multiple loading docks, and flexible storage areas for a range of product profiles. Security is built in throughout, with full CCTV coverage across the warehouse, offices, and yard, high-security storage zones within the warehouse, strict access control, and a fully secured yard. Alongside contract logistics, the Dublin team supports customers with international air and ocean freight, customs brokerage, and integrated supply chain solutions for Ireland, the UK, and the wider European market.
Learn More →Global Freight Market Update – October 2026
Capacity, not demand, is the defining theme of October. Air cargo load factors are rising as global demand grows while industry capacity holds flat; ocean carriers are rebalancing networks around a return to the Suez Canal while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to container shipping; and U.S. truckload capacity remains well below historical levels even as freight volumes return to year-over-year growth. Together these conditions point to a market in which space, routing options, and service reliability, rather than demand, are likely to shape planning and contract conversations heading into 2027.
Market Summary
October freight markets reflect an operating environment that is firm but increasingly uneven across lanes and modes. Air cargo demand grew 4.4% year-over-year against essentially flat industry capacity, with the Transpacific corridor expanding for a seventh consecutive month while Europe–Asia and Middle East-linked lanes slowed. In ocean, the picture is split: Asian port congestion is easing, trans-Pacific and Asia–Europe capacity is loosening as peak season winds down, and carriers are accelerating their return to the Suez Canal, yet the Strait of Hormuz has now been closed to container shipping for more than seven months, keeping Gulf-bound cargo dependent on contingency ports and overland corridors. In the U.S., domestic shipments posted a second consecutive month of year-over-year growth as inventory destocking appears largely complete, while truckload capacity remains constrained by driver availability and disciplined fleet investment. On the trade front, the new Graham Act tariffs on Russia-related trade were established and simultaneously waived by Executive Order, the scope of Section 338 duties on Canadian goods was revised effective October 30, BIS clarified how U.S. content is calculated for USMCA goods subject to Section 232 tariffs, and new EU melt-and-pour documentation requirements for steel imports took effect October 1.
AIR
International Air Freight News
Air freight conditions remain firm. Global air cargo demand grew 4.4% year-over-year in the latest IATA reading, with international traffic up 5.3%, while industry capacity declined 0.1%, lifting the global load factor to 46.0%. Capacity reductions among North American and European carriers were only partly offset by growth from other regions, and the demand picture has become increasingly lane-specific. Fuel remains the primary cost pressure for airlines, with jet fuel trading well above the level IATA assumed for 2026, and fuel surcharge levels remain subject to adjustment as peak season progresses.
O que está mudando?
Global air cargo demand grew 4.4% year-over-year while capacity declined 0.1%, lifting the global load factor to 46.0%.
Asia–North America traffic rose 13.2%, a seventh consecutive month of growth, while Europe–Asia slowed to 3.1% following the EU's July 1 de minimis change.
Jet fuel remains well above IATA's 2026 planning assumption, and Buenos Aires (EZE) is operating at reduced capacity through November 11 for runway maintenance.
OCEAN
International Ocean Freight News
Ocean markets are moving in two directions at once. Outside the Middle East, conditions are beginning to cool: Asian port congestion has eased following the typhoon-related closures of July through September, additional capacity deployed to the U.S. earlier in the autumn is meeting slowing post-peak imports, and capacity continues to outpace demand on Asia–Europe routes. Carriers are also accelerating their return to the Suez Canal and Red Sea, hopeful of a full-scale return by the first quarter of 2027. At the same time, the Strait of Hormuz has now been closed to container shipping for more than seven months, with attacks on commercial vessels continuing in October and no clear timeline for a return to normal transit. Congestion at UAE contingency ports, particularly Khor Fakkan, is causing berth constraints, yard delays, and diversions to Jebel Ali, and overland corridors remain critical for cargo moving into the Gulf. Market participants anticipate continued volatility in the region through year-end.
O que está mudando?
Weekly capacity through Bab el-Mandeb has doubled in six weeks to 48% of pre-crisis levels as carriers accelerate their return to Suez, with full-scale return hoped for by Q1 2027.
The Strait of Hormuz has been closed to container shipping for more than seven months, with congestion at Khor Fakkan and diversions to Jebel Ali continuing. Read Middle East Logistics Operations Update for more.
Asia–Europe on-time performance fell to 4% in September, and the Vincent Thomas Bridge at the Port of Los Angeles closes November 1 for a 16-month redecking project.
GROUND
U.S. Domestic Ground Freight News
The U.S. truckload market continues to firm. Freight shipments across domestic modes rose 2% year-over-year in September, the second consecutive month of growth, and 2026 volumes are now expected to finish roughly flat with the prior year after three consecutive years of decline, as inventory destocking appears largely complete. Against that modest demand recovery, capacity has tightened meaningfully: the Logistics Managers' Index registered its 34th consecutive month of expansion in September, with transportation capacity contracting sharply, and carriers continue to struggle to source drivers amid ongoing regulatory concerns. Contract rates have remained above spot rates for a fourth consecutive month as networks repriced earlier in the year hold, reducing tender rejections and keeping freight off the spot market.
O que está mudando?
Domestic freight shipments rose 2% year-over-year in September, the second consecutive month of growth, with 2026 volumes expected to finish roughly flat with 2025.
Truckload linehaul rates rose 10% year-over-year in September; rates are at their highest level since 2022 but remain 8% below the May 2022 peak.
Carriers plan replacement-level fleet investment for 2027 with little intent to grow fleets, while driver pay continues to rise across surveyed fleets.
Destaque de políticas
Latest Policy & Trade Developments
October's trade developments spanned both sides of the Atlantic: in the United States, new tariff authorities were established but held in reserve, an existing tariff program on Canadian goods was reshaped, and customs valuation rules for North American metals-containing goods were clarified, while in Europe new documentation requirements for steel imports took effect. Each affects landed-cost calculations and documentation requirements for importers in the covered trades. Crane's Tariff Response Unit is available to review how the guidance may apply to specific transactions.
O que está mudando?
President Trump Waives New Russia-Related Tariffs Under the Graham Act: Executive Order 14436 of October 16 established additional duties of 500% on Russian-origin goods and 100% on goods from major purchasers of Russian energy and facilitators of sanctions evasion, while waiving their application. The duties are not currently collected; the waiver has no fixed expiration and existing Russia sanctions remain in effect. Read more
U.S.–Canada Tariff Measures Expand: Effective October 30, the scope of Canadian products subject to the additional 50% Section 338 duty was revised, with certain items removed and others added. Section 338 duties apply regardless of USMCA origin and in addition to Section 232 duties; Canadian surtaxes of 15–50% on specified U.S. goods have applied since September 8. Read more
BIS Clarifies U.S. Content Calculation for USMCA Goods Subject to Section 232 Tariffs: Guidance effective for entries from October 14 defines the U.S. content that may be identified in qualifying Canadian and Mexican goods subject to Section 232 steel, aluminum, and copper tariffs, with supporting documentation required. Read more
EU & UK Steel Melt-and-Pour Requirements: From October 1, importers of steel products covered by the new EU steel regime (Regulation (EU) 2026/1384) must provide evidence of the country of melt and pour, which may differ from the country of origin, manufacture, or shipment and does not yet determine tariff-quota treatment. The UK has no equivalent general requirement, though sanctions on Russian iron and steel processed in third countries continue to require supply-chain evidence. Read more
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