Landside Logistics
Fuel Pricing
Given ongoing volatility in fuel prices and diesel availability, cost impacts are flowing through to wharf cartage and linehaul, as well as depot and empty container park charges. Please allow for variability in monthly landed-cost assumptions.
Most trucking companies are now updating fuel surcharges weekly or fortnightly, rather than using a monthly indexation. While this improves alignment to market conditions, it can increase invoicing and administrative complexity. Please contact your account manager to confirm the current fuel levies that apply to your deliveries.
April also brought increased focus on diesel price transparency and cost pass-through. The Fair Work Commission’s Road Transport Contractual Chain Orders commenced on 21st April and are intended to support timely recovery of fuel costs through the supply chain. For importers, the practical benefit is typically clearer surcharge methodologies and more consistent supporting documentation.
Outlook for May–June 2026
- Fuel planning: Confirm the fuel index your carrier uses, how often it is reviewed, and reflect this in landed-cost forecasting.
- Delivery planning: Validate site receival windows, pre-book delivery slots where possible, and confirm access and unloading readiness to avoid re-attempts.
- Returns planning: Keep free time and return instructions current, and schedule dehire earlier where feasible to reduce end-of-window pressure.
- Visibility and escalation: Agree milestone updates (availability, ETA, delivery, dehire confirmation) so exceptions can be identified and addressed early.
Terminals
Hutchison Ports’ terminals in Sydney and Brisbane have increased terminal-related charges in line with annual pricing reviews and commercial agreements. These adjustments typically flow through to landside pricing (wharf cartage, slot bookings and ancillary terminal activities) and can vary by container size/type and by the specific service being used (for example, receival and delivery transactions, vehicle booking system activity and other terminal fees). As a result, importers may see incremental increases in per-container handling costs from April onwards, particularly on higher-frequency lanes where terminal interactions are concentrated.
Tolls
Sydney toll charges have also increased following quarterly indexation and periodic changes across major toll roads. These movements can materially affect metropolitan pickup and delivery legs (including port shuttles and last-mile linehaul), particularly where routes rely on tolled corridors to meet receival windows and delivery slot commitments. Toll increases are commonly passed through as a separate item or embedded within cartage rates, so month-to-month variances may be more noticeable where volumes are steady but routing remains toll-dependent.
If you have any questions please contact your Account Manager.
Contract Logistics
Truganina 3PL site achieves Dangerous Goods Compliance (Class 8 & 9)
Over the past two months, Harders Contract Logistics has undertaken a focused and strategic program to achieve Dangerous Goods (DG) compliance at our Truganina facility, reinforcing our commitment to safety, regulatory excellence, and customer reliability.
Working closely with an external DG consultant, we initiated a structured compliance program including a detailed site review, action plan, and infrastructure upgrades. This program covered critical areas such as DG storage segregation, emergency response readiness, signage, and site manifest development—ensuring full alignment with regulatory requirements and best practice.
A key milestone has been the implementation of targeted staff training programmes, enabling site teams to safely manage Class 8 and Class 9 dangerous goods. These training initiatives ensure our operational teams are not only compliant but confident in handling DG products day-to-day.
In parallel, governance frameworks have been strengthened through the development of a formalised DG policy and supporting documentation, providing clear operational guidelines and ensuring audit readiness.
This capability has been designed to support customer requirements, including specialised chemical logistics solutions, and has already enabled new service opportunities for key clients.
At Harders, safety and compliance are not just obligations — they are integral to delivering consistent, high-quality logistics outcomes. Our Truganina DG capability reflects our broader commitment to operational excellence, risk management, and building long-term, trusted partnerships with our customers.
Sea Freight Update
Global container markets continue to operate in a tightly managed environment as we progress through
Quarter 2. While underlying cargo demand remains relatively steady across most corridors, available capacity is being actively reduced through blank sailings and ongoing service changes.
An early peak season is now emerging across global trade lanes, particularly ex Northeast Asia, driving increased pricing activity. Carriers are implementing further General Rate Increases (GRI) Rate Restorations (RR), and Peak Season Surcharges (PSS), with even major trades such as the Transpacific seeing double-digit percentage weekly rate increases.
The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) is currently tracking at approximately 80% higher than the same time last year, reflecting stronger market conditions. At the same time, ongoing congestion across Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao and Singapore is impacting schedules and extending transit times.
As a result, space availability is now the key driver, and shippers are operating in a market where securing bookings early is essential.
Northeast Asia to Oceania (China, Korea, Japan)
- Capacity on the China to Australia trade has been reduced due to ongoing blank sailings since April, worsening the supply and demand imbalance.
- At the same time, strong demand across global trade lanes has reduced incentives for carriers to add capacity to Australia, with some vessels redeployed to more profitable routes.
- Middle East instability is adding supply chain uncertainty, prompting Australian importers to order earlier and build inventory.
- Shippers and importers are also pulling cargo forward to avoid further freight rate increases, adding to short‑term demand.
- Together, these factors have created an unusual early peak season, driving stronger‑than‑normal rate increases for this time of year.
- A global container shortage is re‑emerging due to disrupted equipment flows, particularly at key Chinese ports.
- As a result, space across most services is extremely tight, with high utilisation levels and frequent rollovers causing delays of 7–10 days.
- Freight rates have increased across all carriers, typically by USD 200–400 per container.
- Shipping lines have also announced a further round of increases of around USD 300 per TEU effective 1 June, with some carriers, such as MSC, introducing Peak Season Surcharges of a similar level, which are expected to hold under current conditions.
- Australia West Coast services have also strengthened, with direct services like MSC capturing additional volume despite higher pricing.
- Schedule reliability remains inconsistent due to ongoing port congestion and continued network adjustments.
- A buffer of 14 days on top of transit times should be considered for any cargo that is transhipped especially if via Singapore.
Southeast Asia to Oceania
- Demand remains stable, supported by manufacturing, agricultural, and project cargo.
- Equipment imbalances continue in some origins, limiting flexibility on preferred sailings.
- May capacity remains heavily constrained, with blank sailings reducing alternative service options which may carry over to June.
- Rate increases are expected to continue in smaller increments on this lane driven by ongoing congestion, cargo backlogs and rising fuel costs.
- Transit times are extended on some services due to port omissions and revised rotations.
- A buffer of 14 days on top of transit times should be considered due to all the scheduling delays for any transhipment cargo via Singapore.
Europe to Oceania
- Demand remains subdued, particularly ex North Europe, with volumes below typical levels.
- Longer routings and extended transit times continue to impact service consistency; this is prevalent also on the transhipment service options via Asia.
- Pricing remains competitive, with limited success in maintaining previous increases however emergency fuel surcharges remain in place.
- Schedule reliability at origin remains variable, impacting planning certainty.
- Equipment displacement issues have arisen in remote parts of Europe and it is essential to ensure careful pre-planning is undertaken to mitigate delays.
United States to Oceania
- Volumes remain uneven, with agriculture and specialised cargo supporting baseline demand.
- Network adjustments across Transpacific trades continue to impact equipment availability and reliability.
- Capacity is generally available, though space can tighten on faster or direct services.
- Cost pressure is increasingly being applied through surcharges rather than base rate increases.
- If utilising services that tranship via an Asian hub, please allow ample time for delays that may increase transit times by 14 days.
Trans Tasman
- The market remains relatively balanced, supported by stable trade flows.
- Capacity is generally sufficient, although rising fuel costs are starting to influence pricing.
- Schedule reliability has improved overall, despite some isolated disruption.
- Shipping lines remain focused on balancing cost and service outcomes.
Outlook
Looking ahead, the Oceania market is expected to remain tight in the near term, particularly ex Northeast Asia.
The combination of early peak season demand, reduced vessel availability, and ongoing congestion is supporting current rate increases. Further increases remain possible if these conditions persist.
We strongly recommend early planning and booking discipline, with a minimum of 3 weeks from cargo readiness to secure space and minimise disruption.
We appreciate your continued trust and partnership. Our team will continue to monitor developments closely and keep you informed as conditions evolve.
Should you need tailored advice or wish to review upcoming shipping requirements, please don’t hesitate to contact our Key Account Managers.