AGP Executive Report

Red Sea Security: Yemen’s transport ministry says Iran-backed Houthi militants tried to attack an oil tanker near Mokha port with an explosive boat, but patrols intercepted and detonated it before the vessel reached the restricted zone. Hormuz Standoff: Iran says the Strait of Hormuz won’t fully reopen until the US lifts its blockade, withdraws forces, ends threats, compensates for war damage, releases frozen assets, and accepts transit fees—while Iran and Oman near a limited shipping arrangement that still may not restart full traffic. Black Sea Shipping: Turkey has restricted Dardanelles transit permits for some vessels heading to Novorossiysk and Ukrainian terminals after drone attacks and crew injuries, raising risks for oil and grain flows. Industrial Disruption: Pakistan’s industrialists are alarmed by a nationwide goods transporters’ strike, warning raw-material delays could stall factories and derail exports. Cold-Chain & Warehousing: Bengaluru food-safety teams seized sauces nearing expiry at logistics and distribution centers, targeting storage and handling lapses. E-commerce Logistics Shock: Reuters reports Wildberries warehouse drone attacks in Russia have damaged or destroyed over 1.18 million sq meters of space, cutting deliveries and hitting small sellers’ sales.

Strait of Hormuz Watch: Iran and Oman have finalized a framework for easing commercial shipping through the waterway, but lawmakers are still reviewing the final wording and implementation depends on top-level approvals—keeping energy and freight planning in limbo. Energy & Commodities: Brent rose on ongoing Hormuz uncertainty, while analysts flag continued crude volatility and potential rupee moves tied to geopolitical risk. Maritime Disruption: Typhoon Dolphin hit Okinawa with 89 mph winds, triggering flight cancellations and port disruptions across East Asia. War’s Logistics Fallout: Reuters reports Ukrainian drone strikes have damaged Wildberries’ Russian logistics network, raising fears of mass bankruptcies among small sellers facing personal liability; meanwhile Russia says it struck Ukrainian logistics hubs and transport infrastructure. Supply Chain Policy: The U.S. SBA launched a $20M Critical Suppliers Prize Competition to fund small firms expanding domestic manufacturing in advanced metals, materials, and energy components. Last-Mile Automation (France): France authorized certification for autonomous delivery robots for short-distance goods, with local authorities controlling routes and zones. Food Safety & Storage: Bengaluru seized ~70 kg of near-expiry sauces and ~10 litres of beverages from storage/distribution sites, underscoring enforcement pressure on warehousing and handling. Transport Infrastructure (India/Africa): India’s festive demand is pushing electronics firms toward air freight as West Asia slows sea lanes; Egypt’s transport minister met Chad to expand logistics hubs and corridor projects. Cold-Chain & Trade (East Africa): UNEP and the Northern Corridor group launched a green freight program to cut logistics costs and emissions along the Mombasa-to-Congo corridor. Self-Storage & Real Estate: Multiple self-storage transactions and facility financing moves continued, including warehouse and storage yard developments and approvals. Regulatory/Planning (UK): Solihull planners refused a Birmingham Airport-backed solar-plus-storage scheme, a reminder that energy storage growth still faces land-use friction.

Strait of Hormuz Watch: Xeneta says spot container rates are splitting sharply—Asia-to-Europe down ~5% while US West Coast and East Coast spot rates jumped ~14% and ~13% as transits stay far below pre-war levels. Maritime Compliance: Early FuelEU Maritime results show pooling is dominating—92% of vessels used pooling to meet EU GHG intensity targets in the first reporting year. Energy Storage Push: California hit 21,000+ MW of battery storage capacity, a major grid-reliability milestone as the state leans on stored solar power. Green Freight Funding: Kenya-led Northern Corridor secured UNEP support to speed cleaner freight, including emissions tracking and electrification work at Port of Mombasa. Fuel Quality & Retail Logistics: India’s oil retailers say nationwide E20 petrol testing found no validated chloride or moisture contamination, urging continued use as rollout continues. Supply Chain Disruption: Ukraine’s Black Sea corridor remains effectively shut for nearly two weeks, with Odesa-region port traffic halted and agricultural export losses now pegged up to $3B. Trade Connectivity: Nigeria and Canada signed an expanded air transport pact enabling 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly all-cargo flights. Local Logistics & Storage: Schuylkill County agreed to rework zoning rules for data centers and battery energy storage systems, aiming to define both uses as projects surge.

Middle East Fuel Logistics: Lebanon’s government is convening a Monday meeting to speed up overland tanker trucking of Iraqi fuel, focusing on reopening and rehabilitating northern border crossings with Syria and checking Tripoli storage tanks, roads, and capacity. Maritime Emissions Policy: IMarEST is urging IMO members to use its latest analysis for the Net-Zero Framework talks, arguing a levy-based approach is most likely to hit 2030/2040 shipping emissions checkpoints. UK Contract Logistics Shake-up: DP World will take over six GXO grocery contract logistics sites (about 2 million sq ft) in England and Northern Ireland in September, adding ambient, chilled, frozen and bonded storage while GXO keeps transport operations. Wildberries Under Drone Pressure: Ukrainian drones hit Wildberries logistics hubs in Russia, including a Yekaterinburg strike that evacuated staff and temporarily suspended incoming shipments; Wildberries says fires were contained and deliveries rerouted. E-commerce Risk Pricing: Wildberries also started letting sellers insure goods against drone attacks and sabotage, with delivery and pickup-point coverage but higher insurance rates. Energy Storage Manufacturing Push: Fluence reported $649.8m Q3 revenue and a $1.44b order intake, while India’s Servotech and Pace Digitek outlined rapid BESS capacity expansion and moves toward deeper manufacturing. Heatwave Disruptions: Italy put all major cities on red heat alert as Europe’s heatwave worsens wildfires and strains transport and energy systems. Inland Waterway Stress: Record-low Rhine/Danube/Po levels are already disrupting European freight and power generation, with more drought risk ahead.

Transpacific Freight Pulse: Matson says shippers are frontloading inventory and pulling forward seasonal goods, pushing China–U.S. services to excess demand through July and lifting container volumes 15.2% YoY, with capacity tight into peak season. Maritime Finance: Seaspan became the first international ship owner/operator to issue a RMB 1.5bn Panda Bond in China, aiming to diversify funding and back fleet investment. Hormuz Risk Escalation: Global shipping groups urged the UN and IMO to oppose proposed Strait of Hormuz transit fees/tolls, warning any charges could set a precedent and disrupt resilient supply chains. Sanctions Crackdown: US Treasury actions against SeaLead highlight how sanctions evasion is being targeted, with the carrier moving toward liquidation after repeated enforcement. Port & Route Moves: Nigeria’s Lekki Port is set to gain a weekly feeder-linked service via Lomé, improving schedule reliability for importers and exporters. Dealmaking & Network Expansion: Seaspan’s funding move and DP World’s UK grocery logistics transfers underscore continued logistics network reshaping. Corporate Logistics Signals: NFI reported stronger transit and aftermarket momentum in Q2, while Profound Medical flagged shipment timing tied to logistics issues rather than demand.

Strait of Hormuz Watch: Iran and Oman say they’ve agreed route coordinates and are “on the verge” of finalising a temporary shipping corridor, but traffic remains sharply reduced (single digits in the latest 24-hour counts), keeping war-risk premiums and freight uncertainty in play. Port & Cold Chain Expansion: DP World will invest up to €100m in an Antwerp temperature-controlled pharma and perishables hub, adding 55,000m² of warehousing with direct terminal and multimodal access. Contract Logistics Deal: DP World is taking over six GXO grocery contract logistics sites in the UK (2m ft², 2,000 staff) after CMA approval, boosting ambient, chilled, frozen and bonded capacity. Ukraine Supply Chain Hit: Russia struck a Bosch Ukraine warehouse logistics site, wiping out stored products and adding to broader damage to Ukraine’s fuel-energy and transport infrastructure. Autonomous Air Mobility: Kazakhstan’s transport ministry says the first passenger flew on an eVTOL autonomous aircraft, with future uses including emergency medical services, medicine delivery and logistics. Energy Storage & Grid Buildout: MERC approved BEST’s 220MW solar plus 110MW/440MWh BESS procurement under SECI’s ISTS-connected scheme, while Pace Digitek reported strong FY27 momentum and expanded BESS manufacturing capacity. Cruise Demand: Istanbul targets 1m cruise passengers as traffic grows, though Hormuz disruptions have already forced some voyage cancellations.

Strait of Hormuz Talks: Iran says it has agreed key coordinates with Oman for a safer commercial shipping route, while the U.S. signals a deal could come this week—an outcome that could ease fuel and goods price pressure if traffic normalizes. Animal Shipping Shock: Brittany Ferries’ plan to stop carrying live animals next month has left Irish exporters “blindsided,” raising fears of capacity and journey-time constraints. Port & Customs Reform: Dominica will end “tax on tax” at ports from Oct. 1 by calculating Excise Tax and VAT only on CIF value, aiming to cut clearance costs and simplify imports. SEZ Bottleneck: Kenya’s Dongo Kundu SEZ is still held back by slow infrastructure rollout, delaying larger private investment despite new commitments like a pharmaceutical glass bottle plant. Battery Storage Safety: Clean Energy Group released a new public fact sheet on lithium-ion battery fire impacts and cleanup, including a case study of the 2025 Moss Landing incident. Cold Chain Expansion: DP World is adding cold-chain capacity with a new €48M Antwerp hub, targeting growth in temperature-controlled logistics. Logistics Jobs: Robins Air Force Base is hiring hundreds for its Air Logistics Complex, including aircraft maintenance and logistics roles. Storage & Tech Markets: Sandisk shares fell after weaker-than-expected revenue guidance, even as AI-driven storage demand remains a key theme.

Red Sea Security: An India-flagged tanker carrying Saudi oil sank off Yemen after a projectile hit; all 13 Indian crew were rescued, underscoring renewed risk around Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea routes. Ukraine Logistics Under Fire: Russia’s missile and drone barrage on Kyiv killed at least 17 and hit warehouses and major retail logistics hubs like Rozetka and Epicentr; a presidential adviser warned businesses to shrink footprints and disperse storage as Russia can fire about 100 ballistic missiles a month. Strait of Hormuz Watch: Diplomacy with Iran and Oman is progressing but not settled; Iran says the strait won’t reopen unless US conduct changes, while US officials say the southern route remains open and oil prices slid on reopening hopes. Supply Chain Resilience: Hamburg is pushing rail links via Cologne and Duisburg as Rhine low-water disrupts barge capacity. Warehousing & Trade Policy: India operationalised an inventory-based cross-border e-commerce framework, shifting compliance and record-keeping onto exporters-on-record. Forwarding Update: DHL Global Forwarding reported stronger Q2 results, with airfreight revenue up 30% as Middle East disruption and AI shipment demand lifted rates. Port/Network Moves: HMM plans a new Gulf–India–East Africa container service from September, adding Dar es Salaam and Mombasa to its feeder network.

Strait of Hormuz Pressure on Shipping: Diplomats say Oman-mediated talks involving Iran and the U.S. are making progress, but safe commercial passage is still not agreed, as passage rates remain far below normal and crews face mounting risk. Maritime Human Cost: A report highlights thousands of stranded sailors in the Persian Gulf, with attacks widening across the region and more incidents disrupting global routes. Logistics Tech for Voyages: ZeroNorth launched Propel, an agentic AI system that autonomously coordinates maritime voyages and updates plans as conditions change. Port & Supply Chain Deal: DP World and Balco Australia signed a new multi-year logistics agreement to move 10,000+ TEU annually for forage exports, adding dedicated transport and equipment management. Shipping Finance: GE Shipping posted a more-than-twofold profit jump in its June quarter, while GXO reported strong Q2 results with record new business wins. Reverse Logistics & Compliance: Vermont’s Reverse Logistics Group won a contract to support hazardous product stewardship under the state’s EPR program, including manufacturer outreach and cost allocation support. Workforce Pipeline: Elocin Global Logistics is expanding CDL training and transportation career pathways for opportunity youth and young adults in Baltimore.

Strait of Hormuz Tensions: A vessel near the Strait of Hormuz was hit by an unidentified projectile as Iran denies any US negotiations, while oil prices rebound on renewed supply-risk worries. Air Cargo Demand: IATA reports global air cargo demand up 8.5% year-on-year in June, with technology-led growth; Africa sees freight up but capacity down. Air Freight Performance: Lufthansa Cargo says H1 2026 adjusted EBIT jumped 47% as Middle East conflict reshuffled capacity and demand. Network Expansion: Oman Air launched five new cargo routes in a week, adding Muscat–Singapore and Muscat–Tashkent plus links via Sochi, Abu Dhabi and Salalah–Dubai. Port Throughput: Adani Ports handled 46.3m tonnes in July (+15% y/y) and moved 51,020 TEUs by rail. Logistics Infrastructure & Tech: Kyrgyzstan and South Korea begin a 2026-2030 digital transport project covering airport systems, baggage automation and logistics process digitisation. Energy Storage for Resilience: Advantage Renewables acquired three early-stage Michigan BESS projects to support grid reliability and peak management. Cold-Chain/Modular Logistics: AGL Madagascar completed end-to-end transport and precision installation of 51 oversized modular units across challenging routes.

Port & Trade Expansion: Port Canaveral launched a twice-monthly international container service to Mexico and the U.S. Northeast, with Green Tide Logistics and GT USA targeting 80–120 import containers per sailing for electronics, refrigerated goods and produce. Maritime Disruption & Costs: Europe’s heat and drought are cutting river transport and power output, while the Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint as shipping traffic stays disrupted and insurers and routes feel the pressure. Shipping Policy & Compliance: A bipartisan U.S. push—the Manifest Modernization Act—would extend public manifest rules beyond ocean shipping to cover planes, trucks and rail, aiming to close a sanctions-evasion and forced-labor loophole. Rail Operations: Freight trains are getting longer than many expect, with the median length around 5,400 feet and a growing share of trains above 14,000 feet. Logistics Safety: Fiji’s outer-island health outreach is under scrutiny after a sea rescue highlighted the risks of using small boats for open-ocean medical runs. Corporate Moves: Hillman agreed to buy Kanebridge, expanding industrial fastener distribution with same-day shipping capabilities.

Middle Corridor Push: Kazakhstan is leaning harder on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, with Georgia positioned as a key Caspian-to-Black Sea link via Poti port and Batumi oil terminal to cut delivery times and reduce reliance on riskier northern flows. LNG Shipping Contract: MISC shares jumped after securing a long-term charter for a new 18,700 cbm LNG carrier for Malaysia LNG, with delivery expected in 2028. Warehousing Deals in the Netherlands: Clarion Partners Europe bought two fully let North Brabant warehouses near Eindhoven and Tilburg for €50m, betting on tight distribution demand. Urban Logistics Storage in Spain: Redevco acquired two fully let industrial outdoor storage assets in Madrid and Barcelona, expanding its IOS footprint amid structural land scarcity. Strait of Hormuz Tensions: Iran says Hormuz won’t return to normal while US strikes and a naval blockade continue, while industry groups push for toll-free, safe passage. River Disruption: Record-low Rhine levels are cutting barge capacity and driving freight rates higher, raising supply risk for key commodities. Container Reliability Backlash: Shippers are unimpressed by new reliability stats showing weak performance from major carriers. AI Infrastructure & Logistics: OpenAI’s planned $20bn data center in Georgia highlights how power-hungry AI builds new demand for regional logistics and industrial capacity.

Strait of Hormuz Disruption: Shipping remains tense as Iran-linked attacks and US naval enforcement keep traffic reduced; US says it redirected 35 vessels and disabled two tankers while Iran and Oman talks on strait management near final stages, with Trump claiming a possible deal that would reopen Hormuz and end nuclear threats—though Iran denies the US narrative. Freight Rates Watch: Container rates from Asia to the US West Coast fell while East Coast stayed steady-to-higher amid Middle East uncertainty, and analysts flag a pause before peak season. Maritime Security & Fees: Yemen’s HOCC says Bab al-Mandab transit is free and warns against scams demanding payments; separate reporting also points to rising pressure on Red Sea shipping routes. Port Decarbonisation: Valenciaport updated its Environmental and Energy Policy to cut emissions across the supply chain. Warehouse & Automation: Qatar’s WareOne pushes an AI-enabled, bookable logistics model across storage, freight and fulfilment. Cold-Chain & Conflict Impact: Ukraine drone strikes hit Russian logistics sites including Wildberries warehouses, underscoring supply-chain vulnerability. Africa Trade & Logistics: Mozambique’s Niassa says road access limits agricultural value chains; Ghana backs a 24-hour economy tied to logistics and infrastructure. Labour in Logistics: Italy’s unions sign a landmark national agreement with Amazon covering surveillance rules and work-life flexibility.

Energy Policy & Storage: The Philippines filed the Sariling Kuryente Act (HB 10431) to clear barriers for rooftop solar and behind-the-meter battery storage, aiming to treat personal generation differently from commercial power. EV Supply Chain: The Philippines expects EV prices to fall 6–12% after EO 121 launches an Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy, citing lower production and logistics costs. Trade & Logistics Security: The U.S. paused a planned Iran strike, but embassies across the Middle East warned Americans to consider leaving as escalation risk threatens regional shipping and energy flows. Maritime & Warehousing Expansion: SAL Logistics Services completed its acquisition of Belgium’s Aviapartner Liège, adding a European cargo gateway base at Liège Airport. Cross-Border Transport: Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed to restart border trade and push direct sea/shipping connectivity to cut transport time and costs for agri and pharma flows. Cold-Chain Disruption: Ukrainian drones reportedly destroyed a Wildberries logistics hub in Russia’s Volga region, underscoring how attacks keep disrupting fulfillment networks. Animal Transport: M2 Transport moved 900+ pigs by air from Ohio to Cebu, highlighting high-coordination live-cargo logistics.

Maritime Security & Trade Disruption: Russia said it struck more than 80 vessels tied to Ukraine’s supply chain in July, underscoring how fast-moving conflict is hitting cargo flows and port operations. Red Sea / Hormuz Tensions: The Houthis denied plans to charge ships transiting Bab al-Mandab, while Saudi announced a Red Sea security bloc with African partners to keep the corridor open—both moves signal continued risk premiums for shipping. Oil Export Logistics: Iraq and Türkiye signed a one-year deal to move at least 750,000 bpd of Iraqi crude via the Kirkuk–Ceyhan pipeline, aiming to reduce reliance on Hormuz routes. Port Throughput: Egypt’s Damietta Port handled 13 vessel arrivals in 24 hours and reported active container and Ro-Ro services, while Nigeria’s BUA Group pledged $85m to expand Port Harcourt terminal capacity for food supply chains. Industry Watch: Intercargo urged governments to protect civilian merchant shipping as attacks rise, and Kazakhstan welcomed Cathay Pacific Cargo’s first scheduled technical stop in Astana to build its air-freight transit role. Compliance & Border Controls: A U.S. CBP directive allows border officers to search travelers’ electronic devices, a reminder that logistics and travel planning now includes data access risk.

Strait of Hormuz Security: UKMTO reported two tanker incidents near Oman—one hit by an “unknown projectile” damaging an engine room, another explosion sighting near Khasab—while shipping traffic stays thin as US-Iran tensions keep risk elevated. Red Sea Transit Fees: Yemen’s Houthis denied plans to charge ships via Bab al-Mandeb, saying their “safe transit service” is free, after Reuters raised fee concerns. Port Disruption: South Carolina’s Port of Charleston idled its Leatherman container terminal from Aug 1, sending traffic to other terminals as the global shipping downturn bites. Air Cargo Fleet: Amazon Air Cargo put its first factory-built freighter “Odyssey” into service, expanding its owned Boeing 767-300F fleet with new livery branding for third-party capacity. Cross-Border Trade Tech: Saudi Arabia and Kuwait launched a digital customs link enabling pre-clearance data exchange and faster truck processing at border crossings, alongside ongoing railway cooperation. Food Supply Chain Compliance: India’s FSSAI suspended Switz Foods’ licence after inspections found hygiene failures, pest issues, and improper storage—operations halted until fixes are verified. Infrastructure Finance: ECOWAS Bank backed Nigeria’s Bauchi transport programme with $91.63m for 24 road and bridge projects aimed at cutting logistics costs and improving market access. Medical Logistics Milestone: Indian Railways transported a live donor heart from Surat to Ahmedabad on a Vande Bharat Express using a coordinated green corridor for rapid delivery to surgeons.