Antwerp: Chemical Leak Closes MPET, DP World Terminal Resumes
On the evening of Tuesday, July 14, a container carrying hydrofluoric acid began leaking aboard the MSC Mia Summer II while the vessel was working cargo at the MPET terminal (Quay 1742/1718) in the Deurganck Dock. The leak triggered a large-scale evacuation, closure of the Kieldrecht Lock, and a full halt to shipping, truck, and rail activity in the affected area. DP World’s Antwerp Gateway terminal (Quay 1700) and MPET’s Quay 1718 have both resumed operations. MPET’s Quay 1742 — the site of the leak — remains closed; MSC has told customers to expect no pickups or deliveries there before the second shift on July 17 (2:00 PM), pending cleanup and sign-off from authorities. Customers with cargo routed through MPET should plan for continued delays and confirm terminal assignments with their carrier before dispatching trucks.
Rhine Water Levels: Heat Wave Pushes Kaub Below Critical Threshold
The heat wave gripping Europe has dried the Rhine to its lowest July level in decades. The Kaub gauge — the reference point river carriers use to set low-water surcharges — fell to 50 cm as of this morning, down from 86 cm on July 1, and is forecast to drop further to the high 30s by Thursday and Friday before a slight recovery this weekend. Contargo has confirmed low-water surcharges are now in effect for barge shipments departing on days when the Kaub gauge reads below 71 cm, and has flagged that its contractual obligation to transport ends entirely at or below 80 cm (currently well breached), though it will continue moving containers on a best-efforts basis. Customers with cargo moving by barge on the Rhine — including inland moves to and from German and Swiss distribution points — should expect surcharges, reduced barge loads, and longer transit times through the rest of the summer.
Barcelona Rail: ADIF Announces August Service Suspension at Port of Barcelona
ADIF, Spain’s rail infrastructure manager, has notified the industry of a phased disruption to rail service at the Port of Barcelona as part of its infrastructure improvement program. Rail traffic will be fully suspended from August 2 to August 8, meaning no import or export rail service during that window. Partial restrictions and reduced capacity follow from August 9 through 24, driven by ongoing works and night-time limits. This adds to a difficult year for Barcelona’s rail access: the nearby Rubí tunnel, a key freight route on the Mediterranean Corridor, only fully reopened in early July after more than five months of restrictions tied to structural issues discovered in January. We strongly recommend booking well ahead of August and building in road-transport contingency for cargo that must move during the full-suspension window.
Europe Rail, Road & Ocean Carrier Issues Continue to Create Delays
The heat wave and wildfires have created various issues throughout Europe, with the latest report that the Paris-to-Southern-France motorway has been closed due to heat and smoke from wildfires, and various rail lines have been closed due to high heat. The heat wave broke a bit this past week but is expected to return in the upcoming weeks. Finding available carriers for pickups throughout the continent is challenging due to the varying situations. The Ocean Alliance (OOCL, CMA, COSCO, ONE) vessels are planning multiple blank sailings for both East Coast and West Coast vessels, creating additional backlogs.
Fuel Price and Market Outlook
With the resumption of the Iran war, fuel prices have started to tick up again. While we have not yet seen Emergency Bunker Surcharge announcements, we are seeing carriers publish Peak Season Surcharges, especially from North Europe. Vessels are running full, and the delays reported above are creating a “peak” for the upcoming weeks. Whether the PSS announcements for transatlantic cargo will be finalized remains to be seen and will be based on cargo volumes and blank sailings. Prices have skyrocketed for the transpacific trades, and carriers have moved larger vessels to service the high-paying cargo, reducing some vessel sizes on the lower-paying trades. Due to U.S. FMC requirements, carriers must provide 30-day notice on any surcharges, so carriers who have published surcharges today can implement them in 30 days. In this volatile market, a lot can change in 30 days, and we will keep you updated as to the success of pushing through the peak season surcharges.
Mexico Driver Shortages
Mexico continues to face an escalating truck driver shortage due to a variety of factors, including safety and security risks, revocations of visas in the USA, an aging workforce, underdeveloped training pathways, and relatively low wages. Currently, there is a reported 14% vacancy rate for driver positions, the second-highest in the world. Approximately 90,000 trucks are going unused due to the lack of drivers, creating critical shortages and delays in the movement of cargo.
Boeing-Airbus Truce: EU Extends Suspension, Averting the July 11 Snapback
As flagged last week, the five-year U.S.-EU truce suspending 25% tariffs on wine, spirits, and cheese from the Boeing-Airbus dispute was set to expire July 11. Rather than let it lapse, EU member states voted to extend the suspension on an open-ended basis, giving Washington and Brussels more time to negotiate a permanent resolution. This is good news for now — no snapback on top of the existing 15% EU tariff baseline — but the extension has no fixed end date, so we’ll continue to watch for a permanent deal or a change in the U.S. position.
Trade Policy Quick Hits: Section 301 and USMCA
Section 301 forced-labor tariffs: no final determination yet (the Brazil action outlined below stems from a separate investigation). USTR is still reviewing the comment record and July 7 hearing testimony, and we expect to have further information on or prior to July 24. We’ll flag the outcome the moment it’s published. USMCA: U.S. and Mexican negotiators are confirmed to meet in Mexico City the week of July 20 for the next round of bilateral talks following the July 1 non-renewal. CBP CAPE Phase 3, covering finally liquidated entries, remains on track for late July.
Brazil 25% Tariff: July 22 Implementation
The Brazil Section 301 investigation is not the forced-labor issue, but a year-long investigation related to digital trade, intellectual property, anti-corruption enforcement, and unfair trade practices. USTR announced on July 16 that a 25% tariff will be imposed on Brazil-origin products imported into the USA, with limited exemptions including coffee, beef, oranges and orange juice, some oil and energy products, and aerospace parts. At this time, there are no exemptions for beverage alcohol. Brazil is the first country targeted in the latest Trump Administration strategy to use Section 301 as a legal instrument to impose new duties. The tariff will go into effect on July 22, with “in transit” exemptions for goods loaded onto their final mode of transit to the USA prior to 12:01 AM ET on July 22 and entered for consumption or withdrawn for consumption prior to 12:01 AM ET on July 29. Brazil is also part of the Section 301 investigations mentioned above on forced labor and could face an additional 12.5% tariff once USTR completes its investigation.
IEEPA and Court of International Trade (CIT) Update
The CIT issued a new order advising CBP to reliquidate certain “finally” liquidated entries in approximately 3,700 cases assigned to the court. The order anticipates the launch of CAPE Phase 3: companies that have filed lawsuits are expected to receive refunds on their finally liquidated entries soon, while importers who have not filed suit should have a methodology available once Phase 3 launches at the end of July. At this time, if you have a large amount of funds tied up in “finally” liquidated entries, you can still consider filing a suit, but we do expect to have resolution for refunds through the Phase 3 process. The ability to file a suit will be open until approximately February 2027 should Phase 3 get stalled. Should you have any questions on this issue, or on your CAPE refunds in general, please contact us.LCL Services from France, Italy, and Spain/Portugal – Summer Update
Bi-monthly departures continue from each of these countries for your small shipments, offering a per-case rate from point of pickup to the Alba Wine and Spirits warehouse in Edison, New Jersey. For the summer months, all containers will be temperature controlled, ensuring your cargo is protected from summer heat. Shipments from other European countries can be added into the mix, with pickups offered in most European countries. Please let us know if you need any further information!