9 July 2026 

Hello everyone,

Quick hits from the past fortnight, and what they mean for your shipments. Full detail on any point is one email or call away.

1. Hormuz: ceasefire has effectively broken down 

• US struck Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal on 7 July; Trump declared the ceasefire “over”.

• US Central Command has confirmed further strikes; Kuwait intercepted missiles and drones; oil prices jumped over 6%.

• Iran and Oman have formally proposed jointly administering the strait, including transit fees.

Impact on you: minimal direct exposure. Almost no Australian container trade transits Hormuz (only Gulf-origin cargo). The real cost is indirect: carriers staying on the longer Cape of Good Hope route, rising war-risk insurance, and higher bunker costs, all pushing GRIs up regardless of your route.

Action: expect more surcharge announcements soon. Treat quotes as short-lived and keep war-risk/fuel lines under review.

2. Transhipment delays: mostly missed connections, not congestion 

• Singapore wait times are normal (1.2–1.5 days). Multi-week delays are usually a missed onward connection, not a berth queue.

• Colombo is the exception, real congestion, 2–3 day berthing delays, relevant if you route via Fremantle or Adelaide.

• China–Australia booking space remains the tighter constraint overall, via blank sailings rather than wharf congestion.

3. Biosecurity charges up from 1 July 

• Annual indexation has increased the biosecurity cost recovery charge on Full Import Declarations, plus the document processing charge and tailgate inspection fee.

Action: worth checking against your latest invoices.

4. Freight rates 

China → Australia east coast: US$3,400–3,950 per 40ft, up firmly on earlier in the year as capacity tightens ahead of peak season. No pockets of cheaper pricing currently; contract rates are running below spot.

5. On our radar: domestic cartage rising in two steps 

• Fuel excise relief and the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge are both being wound back, not extended.

• 1 July: partial increase as relief shrinks.

• 1 August: full standard rates resume, before peak season volumes even hit the road.

6. Dates for the diary 

• Japan: Marine Day, third Monday of July, brief factory/port impact.

• Looking ahead: China’s Golden Week (early October) and India’s festive season (autumn) both tighten capacity and lift rates in the run-up to Christmas peak.

Want to talk through how any of this affects your shipments, or hear about our Melbourne 3PL and linehaul network? Reach out any time to Rob, Mike or Rosalie, call (02) 8036-8450, or visit www.voxgroup.com.au