April 01 2025 Customer Advisory Notice

NZ Local Update

We have received notice from Port of Auckland advising a 48-hour closure of Fergusson Terminal from Friday, 11 April to Sunday, 13 April 2025 in order to upgrade their Terminal Operating System. There will be no vessel operations from 07:00am and no Receival & Delivery from 15:00pm on Friday 11 April with operations expected to resume from 15:00pm Sunday 13 April. No new VBS bookings or VBS amendments will be made during this period and demurrage, and Export storage charges will be suspended during this time. FreightWorks will work with any customers affected during this time and keep you up to date on any delays.

Air New Zealand and Menzies have advised of a 2.5% increase in ground handling costs effective from March and April respectively.

New Zealand Government has approved changes to the fees and levies that New Zealand Customs and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) charge to recover the costs of managing goods crossing New Zealand’s border. From 01 July 2025 NZ Customs fees will change and from 01 April 2026 the structure of NZ Customs and MPI’s fees and levies will change. More details to follow on what these changes may look like.

FreightWorks has evaluated the FAF being charged to us by our carriers as of the 1st to 30th April 2025 and FAF rate will remain at 18%. This will be re-evaluated monthly.

Asia Market Update

Shipping lines rate slide ex North Asia looks to have reached its bottom with April offers either held from March or beginning to increase from 01 April with notices received for intended increase again from 15 April on short term contracts. Adding to this, shipping lines are blanking sailings through April in order to keep vessel full and demand for space high.

Southeast Asia rates continue to remain steady with vessel remaining full largely owing to high volumes of tranship cargo moving through Singapore and Malaysia. Space can be tight so recommend booking in advance where possible.

Europe Market Update

BMSB is due to end with arrivals on or before 30 April 2025 meaning any new bookings from European Schedule 3 countries will no longer require BMSB treatment.

Hopes for a return to Suez Canal transits were dealt a blow as hostilities in the Red Sea escalated again as US forces and Houthi rebels exchanged missile strikes in March. Despite no direct attacks on commercial vessels this year, the ongoing conflict in the region raises concerns over security and the likelihood of a resolution. Shipping lines continue to divert vessels around the Cape of Good Hope with advertised schedules continuing to be disrupted with vessels
arriving off window due to delays.

Congestion at the port of Rotterdam is leading to longer waiting times for container pickup and drop-off. A combination of high cargo volumes and unresolved labour disputes, including strikes and slowdowns at key terminals, have disrupted operations and slowed cargo handling times.

New Zealand Exports to Europe are facing delays due to space constraints on second leg connecting vessels caused by a recent wave of blank sailings on Asia to Europe routes implemented to manage capacity. As a result, last-minute schedule changes continue to impact planned shipments.

Tranship ports in Singapore and Malaysia are reporting an increase in congestion with multiple missed connections and delays of 1 – 2 weeks on North and Southbound cargo.

USA / Canada Market Update

USA airlines have begun to reduce their seasonal flights to/from New Zealand with American Airlines, Air Canada, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Airlines all expected to reduce flights into Auckland.

Australia Update

Shipping line rates moving both East and Westbound have continued to remain steady with multiple lines now servicing this trade lane weekly. 20’ containers supply can be short in some areas however.