## Company Profile KOKUSAI AEROMARINE CO LTD — Japan-based freight forwarder (lead: Fujita, 営業開拓部 部長). Publicly-available profile and website were not returned in the lead record; evidence link in the lead memo points to a JAXA/J-space systems PDF (possible client/project reference). As a Japan freight forwarder the company is positioned to serve exporters and importers on Asia–Europe and intra‑Asia lanes via air and ocean. Exact scale not listed in the record; typical service mix for this category includes international air & sea forwarding, customs coordination, and handling time‑sensitive cargo classes (electronics, perishables/seafood, pharmaceuticals). ## Pain Points 1) Immediate capacity access & spot‑rate exposure: Kokusai’s exporter clients (electronics, pharma, premium seafood) face sharply higher air rates (+~30% YoY) and ocean volatility (blank sailings, route extensions). They need trusted execution channels that can secure space and predictable landed costs for time‑sensitive shipments. 2) Mode‑choice and routing complexity: Clients increasingly need multi‑modal playbooks (sea‑air, direct air, trans‑shipment via Japan) and fast buyer/sales matching when switching modes; Kokusai must offer not just freight but also market access and buyer coordination to keep exporters profitable. 3) Compliance & DG handling risk + last‑mile coordination: Tightened enforcement and ad‑hoc carrier refusals for hazardous/dual‑use cargo raise documentation and routing risk; perishables require temperature‑controlled guarantees and synchronized last‑mile delivery to premium buyers. Tridge Ark can absorb those execution and buyer‑matching tasks so Kokusai can focus on origination and relationships. ## Intel Summary === MULTI-DIMENSION RESEARCH === === 1. DEMAND SIGNALS === (Japan air & sea freight demand; electronics, seafood, perishables; sea‑to‑air diversion, 2026) • **Overall air cargo demand backdrop** - IATA data show global air cargo demand (CTKs) up **+5.6% YoY in January 2026** and **+9.3% YoY in February 2026**, indicating a clear global rebound versus late‑2025.([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/en/publications/economics/reports/air-cargo-market-analysis-january-2026/?utm_source=openai)) - Industry outlooks for 2026 point to **~2–3% global air cargo volume growth for full‑year 2026**, from a weak 2025 base.([frachtgroup.com](https://www.frachtgroup.com/sites/default/files/2026-01/LMR_JAN2026.pdf?utm_source=openai)) • **Japan air freight demand – product mix & drivers** - Japan’s air cargo market is heavily weighted to **high‑value, time‑sensitive goods**: electronics and components, pharma, fashion/apparel, and perishables (including seafood). Recent market analysis for 2026–2034 highlights: - Rising demand for **temperature‑controlled airfreight** for **electronics, fashion, and perishables**, plus strong support from **pharmaceutical exports and imports**, as key growth drivers for Japan air cargo.([imarcgroup.com](https://www.imarcgroup.com/japan-air-cargo-market?utm_source=openai)) - With Gulf/Middle East routings disrupted (Strait of Hormuz crisis), **Asia–Europe air flows are increasingly being consolidated via Asian hubs including Japan**, pushing additional transit and trans‑shipment cargo through Japanese airports.([metro.global](https://metro.global/2026/03/18/air-freight-faces-tighter-capacity-higher-costs-and-more-complex-routing-decisions/?utm_source=openai)) • **Electronics and high‑tech exports via air (Japan/Asia context)** - Forto’s Q1‑2026 outlook notes **Asia–Europe as the most resilient air corridor**, supported by **high‑value shipments** and continued reliance on air for time‑critical cargo, a segment where Japan’s electronics and components exports are significant.([forto.com](https://forto.com/en/blog/q1-2026-beyond-logistics-outlook-on-sea-capacity-air-trends-economic-risks/?utm_source=openai)) - UPS’s 2026 supply chain outlook for Japan and Asia suggests **capacity and demand are shifting toward intra‑Asia and Asia→Europe** lanes, with exporters in high‑tech sectors prioritizing **time‑definite air services** as they re‑optimize away from some trans‑Pacific exposure.([ups.com](https://www.ups.com/jp/en/supplychain/resources/news-and-market-updates/2026-supply-chain-outlook?utm_source=openai)) • **Sea‑to‑air diversion and perishables/seafood** - Ongoing **Middle East/Red Sea/Hormuz disruptions** have rerouted traffic and lifted air cargo rates and demand across Asia–Europe, including through **Japan as a secondary hub**. Cargo that would typically move via sea (or slower multimodal routes) is partly shifting to air where value and urgency justify it: - A March 2026 analysis highlights **tightening air capacity and rising costs**, with more flows pushed to direct services via hubs such as **Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Japan** to avoid conflict‑affected routings.([metro.global](https://metro.global/2026/03/18/air-freight-faces-tighter-capacity-higher-costs-and-more-complex-routing-decisions/?utm_source=openai)) - For **seafood & perishables**, high rate levels are limiting wholesale mode‑shift, but **selected premium seafood (e.g., fresh tuna, high‑value chilled fish) and high‑margin perishables** are increasingly routed by air to maintain shelf life and service levels, particularly into **Europe and high‑income Asian markets**. (This is an inference from general perishables behavior layered on top of the documented surge in Asia–Europe air demand and the importance of temperature‑controlled cargo for Japan.)([imarcgroup.com](https://www.imarcgroup.com/japan-air-cargo-market?utm_source=openai)) • **Sea freight demand & Japan linkages** - Container shipping analyses show **Asia–Europe volumes in early 2026 growing at double‑digit rates YoY**, partly as Chinese exports diversify from the US into Europe and intra‑Asia; this underpins continued strong export activity from the broader region, including Japan, though specific growth for Japan alone is not broken out.([maritimegateway.com](https://www.maritimegateway.com/container-shipping-forecast-2026-rates-routes-risk/?utm_source=openai)) - However, carriers are **aggressively withdrawing capacity via blank sailings** on Asia–Europe routes (up to **15% of nominal capacity removed** in March–April 2026), which tightens effective supply even where underlying export demand is only modest to moderate.([shippingintelligencehub.com](https://shippingintelligencehub.com/article/carriers-blank-sailings-asia-europe-demand-2026-02-26?utm_source=openai)) **Implications for Japan exporters/importers (electronics, seafood, perishables)** - **Exporters of electronics/semiconductors and pharma** are leaning more heavily on air to preserve lead‑times amid ocean schedule instability and Hormuz/Suez risk, driving **incremental air demand from Japan** into Southeast Asia and Europe. - **Seafood and chilled food exporters** face a trade‑off: high air rates cut margins but help preserve quality and access to premium retail; some are selectively switching key SKUs/shipments to air or express ocean–air combinations via regional hubs, while bulk/commodity seafood remains on ocean. - **Importers** of high‑value components and pharmaceuticals into Japan are also raising air utilization for safety‑stock replenishment because of increased ocean transit‑time uncertainty and port congestion risk on Asia–Europe and Middle East routes.([metro.global](https://metro.global/2026/03/18/air-freight-faces-tighter-capacity-higher-costs-and-more-complex-routing-decisions/?utm_source=openai)) === 2. MARKET EVENTS === (Shipping disruptions 2026; Asia–Europe blank sailings; congestion; Japan ports; air cargo capacity Asia; Japan DG/export controls) • **Asia–Europe blank sailings & capacity withdrawal (2026)** - S&P and other trackers report that in early 2026: - Container alliances announced **47 blank sailings across major trades for March–April 2026**, with **28 cancelled voyages on Asia–Europe** alone, equivalent to roughly **15% of nominal capacity removed** on those lanes.([shippingintelligencehub.com](https://shippingintelligencehub.com/article/carriers-blank-sailings-asia-europe-demand-2026-02-26?utm_source=openai)) - A separate February 2026 report notes **136 blank sailings across trans‑Pacific, Asia–Europe, and trans‑Atlantic in February**, a **+122% increase vs January**, as carriers sought to prevent post‑Lunar‑New‑Year rate erosion.([metro.global](https://metro.global/2026/02/18/blanked-sailings-surge-as-congestion-and-reliability-continue-to-constrain-capacity/?utm_source=openai)) - Week 2‑2026 logistics updates show **Asia→Europe spot rates surging ~12.9% WoW to ~US$2,839/FEU**, partly due to blank sailings and congestion.([cdn.phaata.com](https://cdn.phaata.com/files/market/2026/Phaata-Logistics-Market-Update-Week-2-2026-EN.pdf?utm_source=openai)) • **Congestion & schedule reliability (regional and Japan context)** - Blank sailings and reroutings are creating **uneven vessel arrival patterns**, with hub ports like **Singapore and major European gateways** experiencing alternating spikes of congestion and idle periods.([shippingintelligencehub.com](https://shippingintelligencehub.com/article/carriers-blank-sailings-asia-europe-demand-2026-02-26?utm_source=openai)) - Multiple 2026 logistics outlooks flag that **port congestion is “controlled but fragile”** across Asia–Pacific, with pressure episodes around **Lunar New Year and shifts in Suez/Hormuz routing**; Japan is not highlighted as a systemic bottleneck in these sources, but as a **secondary hub and diversion option**, its ports face **episodic berth and yard pressure** when carriers re‑time services or add ad‑hoc calls. (Inference based on regional congestion narratives and Japan being listed among key Asian energy importers and shipping stakeholders.)([sdcexec.com](https://www.sdcexec.com/transportation/ocean-ports-carriers/news/22959699/dimerco-global-freight-tightens-ahead-of-lunar-new-year?utm_source=openai)) • **Middle East / Suez / Hormuz disruptions cascading into Asia & Japan** - The **2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis** has largely blocked traffic through the strait since **28 Feb 2026**, creating the **largest oil supply disruption on record** and forcing energy and container traffic to reroute.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Strait_of_Hormuz_crisis?utm_source=openai)) - Ocean shipping analyses note that rerouting around the Cape adds substantial transit time and cost to **Asia–Europe services**, tying up capacity and increasing bunker consumption; this indirectly tightens container space out of Asia, including from Japan, and contributes to elevated and volatile freight rates.([maritimegateway.com](https://www.maritimegateway.com/container-shipping-forecast-2026-rates-routes-risk/?utm_source=openai)) • **Air cargo capacity in Asia (2026)** - Metro Global’s March 2026 market brief: - Air freight is under **“growing pressure”** as Middle East disruptions reshape capacity, routing and pricing across key lanes. - **Space has tightened and costs have risen**, with sharpest changes on **Asia–Europe** and South Asia/India flows. Cargo is being **pushed toward direct services or rerouted via hubs including Japan**, which absorbs some diverted demand but also **constrains available capacity** ex‑Japan for exporters.([metro.global](https://metro.global/2026/03/18/air-freight-faces-tighter-capacity-higher-costs-and-more-complex-routing-decisions/?utm_source=openai)) - A regional value‑chain analysis reports **global average air spot rates in April 2026 at US$3.34/kg, +30% YoY**, with **Southeast Asia→Europe at US$5.12/kg** and **South Asia→Europe at US$4.39/kg**, reflecting the squeeze between higher fuel costs and constrained capacity.([valuechainasia.com](https://valuechainasia.com/articles/logistics/asia-air-freight-rates-2026-iran-conflict?utm_source=openai)) • **Regulatory / export‑control events – dangerous goods & Japan** - April 2026 ocean‑market updates highlight growing **concern over prolonged storage of hazardous cargo and dangerous goods** at Asian ports due to rerouting and delays, with regulators and port authorities tightening **safety checks and storage rules** for hazardous consignments.([craneww.com](https://www.craneww.com/site/assets/files/4473/market_update_ocean_april_2026.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - While the documents reviewed do not show a major, new Japan‑specific DG export‑control law in 2026, Japan is a key **importer of Middle Eastern oil and LNG** and a participant in international task forces reacting to the Hormuz crisis; this is likely to translate into **stricter enforcement of existing dangerous‑goods and dual‑use export controls** for air and sea, especially on routes intersecting conflict‑affected regions. (This is an informed inference supported by broader commentary on heightened safety/operational risks at key Asian ports.)([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war_fuel_crisis?utm_source=openai)) **Implications for Japan‑linked flows** - **Ocean:** Asia–Europe services used by Japan‑Europe traffic face **capacity withdrawals, longer routings, and episodic congestion**, raising the risk of **rolled bookings and unreliable ETAs** for Japanese exporters/importers. - **Air:** Capacity into and out of Asia is **tighter, pricier, and more volatile**, with Japan acting as both an origin/destination and a **trans‑shipment buffer**; lane planners need to assume **space constraints and higher DG‑handling scrutiny** on both modes through at least mid‑2026.([metro.global](https://metro.global/2026/03/18/air-freight-faces-tighter-capacity-higher-costs-and-more-complex-routing-decisions/?utm_source=openai)) === 3. PROBLEM FRAMING === (Air freight rate volatility Japan↔SEA/Europe; sea‑freight rate changes 2026; exporter impact & supply‑chain agility) • **2026 air freight rate volatility – Asia & Japan‑adjacent lanes** - Xeneta’s April 2026 data (via Value Chain Asia) show: - **Global air cargo spot rates: US$3.34/kg, +30% YoY.** - **Southeast Asia→Europe spot: US$5.12/kg.** - **South Asia→Europe: US$4.39/kg.** - Surge driven by **jet fuel prices up ~106.6% YoY in March 2026** and capacity constraints tied to the Iran/Hormuz crisis.([valuechainasia.com](https://valuechainasia.com/articles/logistics/asia-air-freight-rates-2026-iran-conflict?utm_source=openai)) - Metro Global notes that as capacity tightens, air markets are characterized by **“higher costs and more complex routing decisions,”** with airlines and forwarders frequently adjusting routings and surcharges; Asia–Europe and intra‑Asia lanes (relevant for Japan–SEA) are among the most affected.([metro.global](https://metro.global/2026/03/18/air-freight-faces-tighter-capacity-higher-costs-and-more-complex-routing-decisions/?utm_source=openai)) - UPS’s 2026 supply chain outlook emphasizes that **tariff updates, regulatory changes and trade negotiations** in 2026 are additional drivers of **rate and capacity volatility**, forcing shippers to adopt dynamic routing and multi‑carrier strategies.([ups.com](https://www.ups.com/jp/en/supplychain/resources/news-and-market-updates/2026-supply-chain-outlook?utm_source=openai)) • **Ocean freight rate dynamics (2026)** - Early‑2026 container market commentary for Asia–Europe: - **Spot rates firmed into late‑2025 and stayed elevated in early January 2026**, driven by pre‑CNY front‑loading and capacity discipline (blank sailings).([spglobal.com](https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/shipping/010926-containers-quarterly-asia-europe-enters-2026-with-seasonal-firmness-structural-uncertainty?utm_source=openai)) - Week‑2/2026: Asia→Europe spot rates **+12.88% WoW to US$2,839/FEU** due to capacity withdrawals and congestion.([cdn.phaata.com](https://cdn.phaata.com/files/market/2026/Phaata-Logistics-Market-Update-Week-2-2026-EN.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - A February 2026 S&P/market‑intelligence outlook for 2026 suggests that while **structural oversupply** (newbuild deliveries) points toward **“softer rates ahead,”** volatility will remain high, with scenarios depending heavily on how and when **Suez/Hormuz routes normalize**: - In a smoother‑reopening case, rates **trend down but with spikes during transition** as congestion flares. - In a protracted disruption case, **elevated and volatile rate levels persist** on Asia–Europe and related trades.([spglobal.com](https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/2026/02/2026-ocean-freight-outlook-softer-rates-ahead-but-volatility-is-not-going-anywhere?utm_source=openai)) • **How this environment impacts Japan exporters/importers (problem framing)** 1. **Budgeting & pricing risk** - With **air rates ~30% higher YoY** and ocean rates subject to double‑digit week‑to‑week moves, Japanese exporters shipping to **Southeast Asia and Europe** face **unpredictable landed‑costs**. High‑value exporters (electronics, machinery, automotive components, pharma) must either: - Build **larger pricing buffers** into contracts, or - **Shorten contract durations** and rely more on index‑linked or floating surcharges. 2. **Mode and routing decisions (sea vs air vs multimodal)** - As ocean routes via Suez/Hormuz remain longer and less reliable, shippers to Europe weigh **costly but reliable air** versus **cheaper but riskier ocean**. For Japan, this often means: - Using **air for critical SKUs and urgent replenishment** to Europe and key SEA markets. - Keeping bulk/base‑load cargo on **ocean**, but with higher safety stocks and flexible port pairings. - Forto and UPS both stress that in 2026, **Asia–Europe and intra‑Asia networks are being redesigned**, with more emphasis on **multi‑hub strategies** and diversified carriers to sustain agility.([ups.com](https://www.ups.com/jp/en/supplychain/resources/news-and-market-updates/2026-supply-chain-outlook?utm_source=openai)) 3. **Capacity access as a strategic constraint** - With alliances cancelling **15%+ of Asia–Europe ocean capacity** in some months and air capacity constrained by rerouting and fuel costs, **space—not just price—becomes a critical bottleneck**.([shippingintelligencehub.com](https://shippingintelligencehub.com/article/carriers-blank-sailings-asia-europe-demand-2026-02-26?utm_source=openai)) - Japanese shippers relying on just‑in‑time flows must accept either: - **Higher logistics spend** (premium services, long‑term capacity commitments, block‑space agreements), or - **Reconfigured production and inventory strategies** (near‑shoring within Asia, higher inventory in European/SEA distribution centers). 4. **Regulatory & compliance complexity** - The Hormuz crisis and associated security concerns are driving **tighter controls on dangerous goods and higher compliance scrutiny**, particularly for shipments passing near conflict zones.([craneww.com](https://www.craneww.com/site/assets/files/4473/market_update_ocean_april_2026.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Exporters in **chemicals, batteries, and high‑tech dual‑use items** out of Japan face elevated **documentation and routing risk**, with potential last‑minute carrier refusals or route changes that feed into both **cost volatility** and **lead‑time uncertainty**. 5. **Supply‑chain agility requirements for 2026** - 2026 logistics outlooks consistently recommend that shippers: - Build **multi‑carrier, multi‑port, and multi‑mode portfolios** instead of relying on a single primary lane.([ups.com](https://www.ups.com/jp/en/supplychain/resources/news-and-market-updates/2026-supply-chain-outlook?utm_source=openai)) - Use **scenario planning** around reopening/closure timelines for Suez/Hormuz to stress‑test costs and service for Japan–Europe flows.([spglobal.com](https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/2026/02/2026-ocean-freight-outlook-softer-rates-ahead-but-volatility-is-not-going-anywhere?utm_source=openai)) - Increase **data visibility (real‑time tracking, dynamic ETA management)** to react quickly to blank sailings and capacity shocks.([metro.global](https://metro.global/2026/02/18/blanked-sailings-surge-as-congestion-and-reliability-continue-to-constrain-capacity/?utm_source=openai)) **Core problem statement for Japan‑linked exporters/importers in 2026** Japan‑origin and Japan‑destined supply chains into **Southeast Asia and Europe** must manage a 2026 environment where: - **Air freight** is structurally more expensive (**~30%+ YoY**) with constrained capacity and routing complexity driven by fuel prices and Middle East disruptions.([valuechainasia.com](https://valuechainasia.com/articles/logistics/asia-air-freight-rates-2026-iran-conflict?utm_source=openai)) - **Ocean freight** on Asia–Europe remains **volatile and capacity‑managed** through blank sailings and extended routings, producing **rate spikes and schedule risk**.([shippingintelligencehub.com](https://shippingintelligencehub.com/article/carriers-blank-sailings-asia-europe-demand-2026-02-26?utm_source=openai)) This forces Japanese shippers—especially in **electronics, automotive components, seafood/perishables, and pharmaceuticals**—to reframe logistics from a cost‑minimization exercise to a **risk and agility management problem**, where: - **Access to capacity, diversification of modes, and flexible routing** become as important as nominal rate levels, and - **Inventory, production, and customer‑service strategies** must be redesigned around persistent transport volatility rather than a quick “return to normal.” Sources: • IATA - Air Cargo Market Analysis - January 2026 https://www.iata.org/en/publications/economics/reports/air-cargo-market-analysis-january-2026/?utm_source=openai • JANUARY 2026 https://www.frachtgroup.com/sites/default/files/2026-01/LMR_JAN2026.pdf?utm_source=openai • Japan Air Cargo Market Size, Share & Trends Report 2034 https://www.imarcgroup.com/japan-air-cargo-market?utm_source=openai • Air freight faces tighter capacity, higher costs and more complex routing decisions | Metro Global https://metro.global/2026/03/18/air-freight-faces-tighter-capacity-higher-costs-and-more-complex-routing-decisions/?utm_source=openai • Q1 2026 Logistics Outlook: Sea & Air Freight Trends https://forto.com/en/blog/q1-2026-beyond-logistics-outlook-on-sea-capacity-air-trends-economic-risks/?utm_source=openai • 2026 Supply Chain Outlook | UPS Supply Chain Solutions - Japan https://www.ups.com/jp/en/supplychain/resources/news-and-market-updates/2026-supply-chain-outlook?utm_source=openai • Air freight faces tighter capacity, higher costs and more complex routing decisions | Metro Global https://metro.global/2026/03/18/air-freight-faces-tighter-capacity-higher-costs-and-more-complex-routing-decisions/?utm_source=openai • Japan Air Cargo Market Size, Share & Trends Report 2034 https://www.imarcgroup.com/japan-air-cargo-market?utm_source=openai • Container Shipping Forecast 2026: Rates, Routes & Risk | Maritime Gateway https://www.maritimegateway.com/container-shipping-forecast-2026-rates-routes-risk/?utm_source=openai • Carriers Intensify Blank Sailings as Asia-Europe Demand Softens | Shipping Intelligence Hub | Shipping Intelligence Hub https://shippingintelligencehub.com/article/carriers-blank-sailings-asia-europe-demand-2026-02-26?utm_source=openai • Air freight faces tighter capacity, higher costs and more complex routing decisions | Metro Global https://metro.global/2026/03/18/air-freight-faces-tighter-capacity-higher-costs-and-more-complex-routing-decisions/?utm_source=openai • - RSo Th CURRENT STATE Rerouting of Middle https://www.craneww.com/site/assets/files/4473/market_update_ocean_april_2026.pdf?utm_source=openai • 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Strait_of_Hormuz_crisis?utm_source=openai • Container Shipping Forecast 2026: Rates, Routes & Risk | Maritime Gateway https://www.maritimegateway.com/container-shipping-forecast-2026-rates-routes-risk/?utm_source=openai • Air freight faces tighter capacity, higher costs and more complex routing decisions | Metro Global https://metro.global/2026/03/18/air-freight-faces-tighter-capacity-higher-costs-and-more-complex-routing-decisions/?utm_source=openai • Asia Air Freight Rates 2026: Costs Soar as Gulf Hubs Halt https://valuechainasia.com/articles/logistics/asia-air-freight-rates-2026-iran-conflict?utm_source=openai • Air freight faces tighter capacity, higher costs and more complex routing decisions | Metro Global https://metro.global/2026/03/18/air-freight-faces-tighter-capacity-higher-costs-and-more-complex-routing-decisions/?utm_source=openai • 2026 Supply Chain Outlook | UPS Supply Chain Solutions - Japan https://www.ups.com/jp/en/supplychain/resources/news-and-market-updates/2026-supply-chain-outlook?utm_source=openai • CONTAINERS QUARTERLY: Asia-Europe enters 2026 with seasonal firmness, structural uncertainty | S&P Global https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/shipping/010926-containers-quarterly-asia-europe-enters-2026-with-seasonal-firmness-structural-uncertainty?utm_source=openai • 12/01/2026 Week 2 INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS MARKET U https://cdn.phaata.com/files/market/2026/Phaata-Logistics-Market-Update-Week-2-2026-EN.pdf?utm_source=openai • Carriers Intensify Blank Sailings as Asia-Europe Demand Softens | Shipping Intelligence Hub | Shipping Intelligence Hub https://shippingintelligencehub.com/article/carriers-blank-sailings-asia-europe-demand-2026-02-26?utm_source=openai • - RSo Th CURRENT STATE Rerouting of Middle https://www.craneww.com/site/assets/files/4473/market_update_ocean_april_2026.pdf?utm_source=openai • 2026 Supply Chain Outlook | UPS Supply Chain Solutions - Japan https://www.ups.com/jp/en/supplychain/resources/news-and-market-updates/2026-supply-chain-outlook?utm_source=openai • 2026 Ocean Freight Outlook: Softer Rates Ahead, but Volatility Isn’t Going Anywhere | S&P Global https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/2026/02/2026-ocean-freight-outlook-softer-rates-ahead-but-volatility-is-not-going-anywhere?utm_source=openai • Blanked sailings surge as congestion and reliability continue to constrain capacity | Metro Global https://metro.global/2026/02/18/blanked-sailings-surge-as-congestion-and-reliability-continue-to-constrain-capacity/?utm_source=openai • Asia Air Freight Rates 2026: Costs Soar as Gulf Hubs Halt https://valuechainasia.com/articles/logistics/asia-air-freight-rates-2026-iran-conflict?utm_source=openai • Carriers Intensify Blank Sailings as Asia-Europe Demand Softens | Shipping Intelligence Hub | Shipping Intelligence Hub https://shippingintelligencehub.com/article/carriers-blank-sailings-asia-europe-demand-2026-02-26?utm_source=openai