Ocean Freight 

Entering week 4 of the war between the US/Israel and Iran, there are still no signs of an imminent ceasefire. While the operational impact on especially airfreight continues to minimise, it is clear that the effects are widespread and impactful. Much of the attention within the global transportation industry has, in the meantime, shifted to surging oil prices and the pain of same.

Following the military strike by the US-Israel on Iran, and Iran’s subsequent retaliation on targeted US bases in the Middle East, between 28 February and 1 March 2026, we wish to provide you with an update on the short-term impact on global transportation and logistics flows.

While much attention during the last years has been on geopolitical impacts on the transportation and logistics industry, the industry itself this time created the headlines. News emerged on 16 February that German container carrier Hapag-Lloyd had struck a deal to acquire Israeli carrier ZIM, firmly cementing its 5th place ranking amongst global container carriers.

As we approach the end of 2025, all indicators point to a 2026 logistics and supply chain landscape mirroring what we have endured in 2025 in the sense of continued volatility, however, with different headlines.

As the banner illustrates Scan Global Logistics is turning a sharp and memorable corner as we celebrate 50 years of making the world of logistics a little less complicated. Turning a sharp corner is also a good occasion to reflect on the current temperature within the world of logistics, and as well the world as a whole.

The global logistics sector continues to be plagued by a wide range of disrupting factors, including continued geopolitical and macroeconomic instability, fiscal policy reversals topped off by infrastructural bottlenecks. These factors, previously seen as exceptional, have now become everyday topics – and as we say, “the new normal”.

The global transport and logistics landscape continues to be plagued by an array of geopolitical impacts that effectively have squashed any hope of stability for the remainder of the year. While temporary US tariffs deals are entered into at a steady pace, the fact remains that uncertainty is ever present, pushing global supply chains into a “stop & go” mode, spiced with occasional demand catch up effects.

As much as we prefer to bring positive news to our readers within the global logistics and transportation space, this is becoming increasingly difficult due to a new global trade world order. Globe trade principles and underlying geopolitical dynamics have been subject to an array of earthquakes during the last months, triggered by the US administration's fundamentally new foreign trade policy.

With a foundation built on trust, expertise, and shared ambitions, the longstanding partnership between Mölnlycke and Scan Global Logistics (SGL) highlights how sustained collaboration can accelerate the transition to low-carbon logistics. By expanding its use of ocean biofuel, Mölnlycke is reinforcing its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while optimising supply chain efficiency.