☕ Less Shock. More Friction| Cargoccino 4.22.26
This week’s signal is less about one dramatic disruption and more about the way pressure is spreading through the system. Energy markets at one point appeared to be calming, but carriers, ports, and shippers are still dealing with uneven fuel availability, local operating constraints, and a cost structure that is getting harder to read.
Top of the Cup: Fuel prices appeared to be cooling, but fuel logistics are not
Oil fell sharply after Iran said commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz was open, and then rose again as the opening was once again disputed. Even the dip in price has not translated into normal operating conditions across shipping. Bunker fuel is still unevenly distributed across Asia, with Singapore feeling the strain, which means that even temporary lower headline oil prices do not automatically restore supply chain stability.
Source: JOC
Gulf disruption is being absorbed by ports farther afield
The conflict is constraining UAE shipping operations, with congestion at Khor Fakkan and Fujairah, carrier booking suspensions, and diversions to Salalah and Mundra. That is a useful reminder that disruption rarely stays at the chokepoint itself; it tends to reappear in neighboring hubs and alternative routings.
Why it matters: disruption doesn’t disappear-it shifts, often showing up as congestion and delays in secondary hubs.
Source: Maritime News
Even soft gateways are struggling with service discipline
At Seattle, the Northwest Seaport Alliance publicly criticized SSA Terminals for once-a-week gate closures even as cargo volumes remain soft. The message is a sharp one: lower volumes do not necessarily create smoother operations, and service pullbacks can create their own friction just when shippers expect breathing room.
Why it matters: lower volumes don’t guarantee smoother operations; reduced service levels can create friction even in quieter markets.
Source: JOC
The operational side: cost pressure is harder to track than it is to see
FedEx and UPS fuel fees have spiked, with shippers paying closer attention after a record-high quarter for ground delivery surcharge costs. Even outside ocean freight, fuel-related charges are becoming more visible, which reinforces the broader theme: cost pressure is not disappearing, it is being redistributed into surcharges and accessorial-style line items.
Why it matters: in a fragmented cost environment, better data, not faster reactions, is what separates cost control from cost exposure.
Source: Supply Chain Drive
☕ What’s brewing at BlueCargo?
Event Recap: Global Supply Chain & Trade Conference
Our team recently spent 2 days at Under Armour HQ in Baltimore for the AAFA Global Supply Chain & Trade Conference.
See their thoughts on the event in our most recent LinkedIn post, or contact Kawas.
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