AGP Executive Report

Strait of Hormuz Dispute: The U.S. and Iran traded fresh strikes again as Iran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz “until further notice,” while CENTCOM insisted “traffic is flowing” and that the waterway remains open for lawful commercial transit—raising fresh risk for global oil and shipping schedules. Maritime Safety & Shipping Risk: Iran also reported projectiles hitting Qeshm Island and said an Iranian telecom worker was killed, underscoring how quickly logistics corridors can turn dangerous. AAM Logistics Leap: In the U.S., BETA Technologies completed first electric CTOL aircraft flights under the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, showing new options for mission-critical transport across a multi-state corridor. Freight Infrastructure Push: Pennsylvania officials and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick urged federal support for the final 3.2-mile Route 228 segment to expand freight capacity and reliability. Trade & Customs: Ghana’s customs brokerage sector held leadership appointments at CHAAG, aiming to improve trade facilitation and professional standards. Cold Storage & Storage Growth: A new self-storage site opened in Batavia, while a separate logistics push highlighted the need to bring cold storage closer to farms to cut post-harvest losses. Supply Chain Management Tips: A new guide focused on planning, inventory tracking, supplier coordination, and sustainability as practical levers for shippers.

Middle East Shipping Shock: CENTCOM says the U.S. completed a third round of strikes on Iran, hitting about 140 targets Saturday and more than 300 across three nights, while adding that commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues and U.S. forces have helped over 800 vessels transit since early May. Maritime Diplomacy: Oman and Iran agreed to keep technical and political talks going in Muscat on safe navigation and freedom of passage, as Iran also claims it has closed the strait after a vessel tried an unauthorized route. Regional Logistics Risk: The flare-up is pushing shippers to plan around disruption on a corridor that carries roughly one-fifth of global seaborne crude and LNG, with analysts warning higher oil prices could trigger broader economic strain. Business & Trade Environment: Bangladesh’s Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged reforms to cut the cost of doing business, simplify trade licensing and letters of credit, and improve local law-and-order to support trade and investment. Logistics Expansion: Rock-It opened a Middle East regional HQ in Abu Dhabi, positioning it as a specialist logistics hub with bonded storage for high-value, time-sensitive cargo.

Strait of Hormuz Pressure: The US issued Iran a Saturday ultimatum to publicly commit to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and end attacks on commercial shipping, as talks with Oman continue and shipping risk keeps oil and freight markets on edge. Maritime Law Signal: Kuwait-backed analysis points to an IMO move rejecting Iran’s attempt to claim unilateral control over Hormuz traffic, reinforcing freedom of navigation under UNCLOS. Regional Trade Disruption: Heavy rain and rough seas have disrupted cargo handling at Bangladesh’s Chattogram Port, with vessels stranded and importers seeking compensation after waterlogging damaged goods. India Shipping Policy: India exempted GIFT City IFSC entities from licence requirements to charter foreign vessels for export-import cargo, aiming to boost maritime leasing and financing. Russia Logistics Push: Russia is targeting mid-July to start a commercial logistics hub at Tartous (Syrian port), aiming for about 250,000 tons/month while officials dispute details. Standards for Exports: India-UK trade pact won’t lift exports automatically, GTRI warns—India must strengthen standards, certification, logistics and buyer networks. Aviation Safety Concern: Residents near Lake Couchiching say aerodrome fuel tank plans highlight regulatory gaps as seaplane activity grows. Cross-Border Infrastructure: Canada and Michigan agreed to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge on July 27. Food Supply Compliance: India’s FSSAI issued nine notices to Swiggy Instamart over alleged expired/spoiled and contaminated items, raising pressure on last-mile food logistics. Port/Shipping Disruption in Ukraine: Ukraine claims strikes hit Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov, prompting Russia to halt shipping through the Don-Azov Channel and suspend transit applications via Kerch Strait.

Strait of Hormuz Diplomacy: Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi arrived in Oman for talks aimed at preventing a renewed confrontation after attacks on commercial vessels, as Washington presses Tehran for a public pledge that the waterway is open and safe for shipping. Maritime Fees Debate: European countries are weighing proposals to charge for navigational services in the Strait of Hormuz (like pilotage and safety support) rather than mandatory transit tolls, to avoid legal fights over international transit rights. Shipping Disruption Watch: With tensions flaring, shipping through the Gulf has been described as near-standstill at times, while more than a third of recent crossings used routes close to Iran’s coastline—raising fresh supply-chain risk for oil and trade flows. Legal Fallout for Crews: Three former crew members of the Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree, struck in the Strait of Hormuz, filed a labor lawsuit in Bangkok alleging negligence and improper handling during the conflict. Port Operations Hit by Weather: Benapole Land Port in Bangladesh saw waterlogging after heavy rain, with imported goods at risk due to drainage failures and limited insurance coverage. Food Safety & Quick Commerce: India’s FSSAI issued nine notices to Swiggy Instamart over complaints involving expired, spoiled and contaminated items, demanding compliance reports. Freight Cost Pressure in NZ: New Zealand firms are leaning on smarter warehouse material handling to offset rising freight costs and protect throughput. India–New Zealand Trade Push: Modi and Luxon upgraded ties to a strategic partnership, targeting Rs 35,000 crore in trade by 2030 and agreeing on maritime cooperation and logistics support. Maritime Cybersecurity: Dutch intelligence warned that Russian state-backed hackers compromised internet-connected cameras along NATO logistics routes to track military shipments to Ukraine. Energy Storage Local Politics: Massachusetts battery storage projects sparked local disputes over grid and permitting impacts, as states push net-zero goals.

Strait of Hormuz Disruption: Fresh U.S.-Iran clashes damaged three tankers and kept the JMIC threat level at “SEVERE,” with mariners urged to use the southern route and coordinate with NCAGS as shipping near the chokepoint grinds on. Ocean Freight Watch: Xeneta says ocean container spot rates stayed flat week-on-week as carriers added capacity, but rates remain far above pre-crisis levels and mid-July increases are still expected. Maritime Hub Rankings: Shanghai overtook London to become the world’s No.2 shipping centre in the Xinhua-Baltic index, while Singapore retained the top spot for a 13th straight year. Automation & Warehousing: Robust.AI will deploy ShipLab’s Carter collaborative mobile robots using a phased “Crawl, Walk, Run” rollout to boost e-commerce fulfillment productivity. Intralogistics Tech: ABB Robotics launched the Flexley Stack F712, extending AI-powered visual navigation to autonomous forklifts for pallet transport and high-density storage. Southern Africa Logistics: Zimbabwe’s AfroFleet launched a digital freight marketplace to match verified cargo owners with transport operators and cut empty miles and cross-border paperwork friction. Regulatory & Safety: India’s DGCA warned IndiGo over dangerous-goods handling lapses at an airport storage facility, ordering an action report and retraining. Storage & Real Estate: National Storage Affiliates Trust said its Public Storage deal is expected to close around July 22, with a prorated dividend tied to the transaction timeline. Energy Transition: EU plans to mandate heat pumps in public buildings and push subsidies/price reforms to accelerate electrification as Hormuz-linked energy costs pressure budgets.

Port & Logistics Expansion: Port Klang Free Zone says its planned third terminal on Carey Island won’t cannibalize Port Klang’s growth, but will add warehousing, industrial zones and port-linked value-added activity near Westports. Maritime Disruption: The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint as US-Iran strikes rattle shipping, with Iran’s IRGC saying transit will follow its rules and reports of tankers and LNG traffic resuming despite attacks. Shipping Costs & Routes: TCRC reports container rates from China to Europe via the Middle Corridor have climbed since early 2026 as Middle East instability boosts fuel and insurance costs. Energy Shipping Demand: ADNOC Logistics & Services orders four next-gen LNG carriers worth about $900m, targeting 2029 deliveries to expand gas transport capacity. Workforce & Skills: Cyprus faces a jobs-skills mismatch, with vacancies concentrated in transportation and storage among other sectors. Storage & Warehousing Growth: StoreLocal opens new self-storage sites in Beaudesert and Pakenham South, pushing tech-enabled, contactless access. Industrial Gas & Decarbonisation: Messer highlights nearly three decades in Vietnam and plans for low-carbon hydrogen as it expands its gas network. Rail Freight Pressure: Italy’s rail freight operators demand compensation under the EU-backed recovery plan, warning the sector is worsening.

Middle East Shipping Shock: Strait of Hormuz traffic “effectively grinding to a halt” after renewed US-Iran clashes, with insurers and oil prices reacting as companies brace for more disruption. Port & Trade Moves: Port of Los Angeles signs an MoU with Shenzhen Port Group and Yantian to push greener operations and innovation, while DP World buys 700 lorries to expand GCC road freight capacity amid rerouting. Cold-Chain & Local Recovery: Boyle Heights residents meet Lineage Logistics officials after a massive cold-storage fire left 85 million pounds of spoiled food, raising alarms on environmental monitoring and community support. Supply Chain Planning: SIOP/S&OP is framed as the enterprise “control tower,” not just demand planning—aimed at tighter coordination across decisions. Healthcare Logistics: FedEx launches a life sciences unit for temperature-sensitive, regulated shipments, signaling continued shift to premium logistics. Energy Storage Policy: India waives import duties on key battery manufacturing inputs to boost domestic production, while a UK council rejects a large battery storage plan near a garden centre. Freight Equipment: Wabash advances its 2027 dry van order cycle earlier to match fleet planning timelines.

Strait of Hormuz Shockwaves: The US and Iran traded strikes again as Trump said the ceasefire is “over,” with CENTCOM citing attacks on Iranian military logistics and Iran hitting US-linked bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar—raising fresh freight and fuel-price anxiety across the region. Port & Corridor Moves: DP World added 700 trucks to its GCC freight network to keep port-to-door flows moving despite sea-route pressure, while Baku Port reported a 15% container-handling rise in H1 2026 as the Middle Corridor gains traction. Automation for Scale: Swisslog pushed “future-ready” warehouse automation principles, warning that systems that work on day one can fail as operations evolve. South Africa Logistics Pressure: Transport Minister Barbara Creecy warned SA’s rail and port weaknesses are giving neighbours an edge, as Transnet Port Terminals blacklisted seven firms over corruption probes. Policy & Infrastructure: Hungary faces an EU court challenge over retail margin caps, and Jordan and Germany signed a €22.7m debt swap to support water transport, storage and distribution readiness.

Middle East Energy Shock: Fresh US strikes on Iran and Trump’s “ceasefire over” comments are pushing oil and gas higher, with markets again pricing risk to Strait of Hormuz shipping—raising fears of renewed inflation pressure in Europe. Carrier Compliance: Armstrong & Associates’ 3PL Value Creation North America Summit spotlights tougher carrier vetting and documentation expectations for brokers as legal and FMCSA rules raise the standard of care. Warehouse Automation: Ambi Robotics and Pickle Robot say they’ve integrated AI-driven systems to automate package movement from trailer unloading through palletizing and warehouse receiving. Intralogistics M&A: Comau completed its acquisition of Brazil’s Invent Smart Intralogistics Solutions to expand warehouse orchestration and AI logistics capabilities. Port & Logistics Development: New Orleans launched two investment corridors—Michoud for aerospace/advanced manufacturing and a Port and Logistics Corridor targeting maritime commerce, warehousing and supply chain jobs. Electric Fleet Infrastructure: CTDOT selected STV to design an electric bus maintenance and administration facility for River Valley Transit, including charging and maintenance bays. Fuel Price Volatility: US diesel prices remain elevated and jumpy amid Hormuz uncertainty, with local reports showing the impact of global shipping risk on pump costs.

Maritime Disruption: Super Typhoon Inday (Bavi) has forced Montenegro Shipping Lines to cancel the Lucena City–San Agustin, Romblon route, citing rough sea conditions and urging passengers to monitor updates. Port Recovery: Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Bahrain rebounded sharply after the Strait of Hormuz disruption, hitting its highest monthly general cargo level in two years in June. Air Cargo Capacity: MASkargo and Qatar Airways Cargo launched a twice-weekly Boeing 777 freighter service linking Kuala Lumpur, Bengaluru and Doha, adding 200 tonnes weekly capacity for general cargo, perishables and pharma. Trade & Infrastructure Strategy: Gulftainer unveiled a US$2 billion plan to become a global trade infrastructure player, including expansion at Khorfakkan Port to 5m TEUs and multimodal links via inland logistics parks. Digital Logistics & Compliance: Nigeria’s Galaxy Backbone is ramping up support for banks and fintechs as the CBN pushes local storage of payment transaction data. Energy Market Watch: Oil prices rose for a second day as renewed US strikes on Iran stoked Strait of Hormuz supply-risk concerns. Business Rates Policy: Northern Ireland Finance Minister John O’Dowd urged businesses to respond to reforms on non-domestic vacant rating and a Business Growth Accelerator.

Maritime Security Shock: Iran-linked attacks in the Strait of Hormuz are escalating again, with multiple tanker incidents reported and the UK raising the threat level to “substantial,” adding congestion and mine-risk warnings for shipping. Sanctions & Oil Volatility: The US reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil sales after the attacks, tightening the supply outlook and pushing Brent higher, while the ceasefire framework faces fresh strain. Shipping Costs & Demand: Transpacific ocean rates jumped fast as shippers frontloaded cargo ahead of expected surcharges and tariff deadlines, with Freightos citing peak-season demand as the main driver. Intralogistics Automation: ABB Robotics launched the Flexley Stack F712 autonomous forklift, using vSLAM to support warehouse storage and retrieval with a more scalable, AI-powered AMR approach. Regional Logistics Push: Bahrain’s finance minister met DHL Express leadership to expand cooperation and support the kingdom’s push to strengthen its role as a regional logistics hub. GCC Integration: GCC transport officials discussed logistics integration steps, including progress on the GCC railway project and better connectivity across member states. Warehouse & Supply Chain Pulse: The Logistics Manager’s Index rose to 71.1 in June, signaling faster growth in inventory, warehousing, and transportation capacity/utilization. AI Infrastructure Meets Storage: Coverage highlights how “agentic” AI is driving a bigger role for storage in logistics-adjacent compute systems, as context memory needs more efficient throughput.

Strait of Hormuz Disruption: A Qatari LNG tanker (Al Rekayyat) was hit near Oman’s coast, with reports of missile or drone activity and a fire in the engine room, renewing shipping risk fears even as oil markets try to look through the flare-up. Energy Markets: Brent and WTI edged higher as traders weighed supply growth and demand outlook, while investors monitor whether US-Iran talks change future transit conditions. Marine Appointments: Markel named Grant Smith as Director of Marine Transportation, a reminder that marine risk management remains a board-level priority. Coastal Shipping Expansion: DP World added an India-flagged 2,500+ TEU vessel to grow its coastal network, aiming to ease road pressure and strengthen port-to-port logistics. Air Cargo Network Shift: Emirates SkyCargo plans transpacific freighter operations and will end passenger-freighter flights, targeting demand from tech and electronics flows. Cambodia Logistics Push: Hun Manet reaffirmed plans for 11 logistics hubs under a 2023-2033 intermodal master plan, alongside rail, canal, and port upgrades. Cold Chain & Cooling Tech: Gyre Energy secured funding to deploy AI-optimized cooling and thermal storage in large cold-chain sites, targeting lower energy costs for temperature-sensitive logistics. Governance & Leadership: WiseTech founder Richard White stepped down as chairman amid governance scrutiny, with an independent director taking over as the software group navigates investor confidence.

Port & Trade Facilitation: Cambodia’s transport and logistics push got a boost as DPM Sun Chanthol met EuroCham to improve import-export cargo flow, with PAS highlighting PASNet’s port digital services and its 2026 link-up with customs systems. Shipping Security & Routes: Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd plan to test a return to Suez/Red Sea transit on one Asia–Mediterranean–Turkey route under the Gemini Cooperation, while keeping contingency plans if conditions worsen. Maritime Disruption Impact: Fiji’s hotel and tourism operators warned the Taveuni shipping and fuel crisis is spreading beyond tourism, threatening electricity, water, transport and emergency services. Road Logistics Investment: Malaysia’s Melaka will build a RM129m, 12km road linking KLIP to the Melaka Inland Port to cut travel distance and speed freight movement. Digital Permits: Uzbekistan and Georgia agreed to move road transport permits to a fully electronic exchange system and expand rail discount coverage to more wagon types. Cold Chain & Storage Demand: Nepal’s economy growth in Q3 was supported by transport and storage, with the electricity and gas sector leading—an encouraging sign for logistics-dependent supply chains. Infrastructure for Freight Safety: Missouri is expanding truck parking along I-70 as freight volumes rise, aiming to improve highway safety. Energy Storage for Logistics-Adjacent Sectors: VivoPower is studying co-locating BESS at its Mo i Rana data center to tap additional Nordic reserve markets, reflecting how storage is increasingly tied to operational reliability.

Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s latest push to rename transit charges as a “service fee” is intensifying the fee debate as China urges uninterrupted passage and warns against disruptions. Maritime Operations: Qatar says all maritime navigation activities can resume normally, while port data shows strong H1 throughput with 493,105 TEUs handled and 866 vessel calls. Trade Corridors: Kazakhstan and the EU are moving from transit to a broader strategic partnership, positioning the country as a transport and supply-chain hub via the Middle Corridor. Express & Cross-Border Growth: Dubai Chambers and FedEx sign an MoU to help local firms export faster with customs advisory and ATA Carnet support. Central Asia Logistics: FESCO launches a China-to-Kazakhstan-and-Uzbekistan container shuttle using Dostyk and Altynkol crossings to capture Central Asia demand. Inland Port Buildout: Malaysia breaks ground on the RM300m Melaka Inland Port, targeting AI-enabled multimodal logistics with bonded areas and rail-container handling. Food Supply Chains: Malaysia explores land-and-rail durian exports to China to cut costs versus air freight. Cold-Chain Disruption: Mumbai dabbawalas suspend lunchbox deliveries as monsoon flooding and rail delays disrupt daily logistics.

Maritime Corridor Restart: Qatar has authorized the immediate resumption of nationwide navigation after a week-long security shutdown, clearing the way for commercial, domestic and artisanal vessels to return to sea lanes. Gulf Trade Reopens: Iran–Qatar shipping between Dayyer and Al Ruwais has restarted after a five-month halt, expected to cut regional transport costs and speed up supply chains. Customs & Air Cargo Boost: Dubai Customs, in partnership with Emirates SkyCargo, says imported goods cleared through Dubai’s cargo facilities jumped more than 82% from January to May, supporting food and pharma security across the Gulf. Green Fuels Exports: India’s ACME Cleantech signed major long-term export deals for green ammonia and methanol with Japan, a milestone for the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Critical Minerals Processing: New Zealand’s Westland Mineral Sands won $30m government backing for a $70m mineral separation plant to build domestic critical-mineral capability. Port/Shipping Cost Pressure: A Philippine lawmaker urged MARINA to roll back Calapan–Batangas fares after oil-price-driven increases hit passenger and rolling cargo rates. Inventory & Distribution Focus: A new guide highlights practical steps to tighten inventory control and distribution performance, from cross-team alignment to real-time visibility and automation.

Maritime Disruption Watch: Qatar reversed a June 29 advisory and said maritime activities will resume immediately, urging operators to follow safety and security rules after regional military operations and the disappearance of a vessel. Strait of Hormuz Fees: Iran signaled it plans to introduce new service fees for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with “friendly-nation” discounts and special consideration, as a temporary US-Iran arrangement expires. Port Throughput: Mwani Qatar reported June growth across Hamad, Ruwais and Doha ports—121 vessel calls (+21%), 78,000 TEUs (+13%) and bulk cargo up 40% month-on-month—highlighting continued regional transshipment demand. Freight Cost Pressure: A Philippine lawmaker asked MARINA to push shipping firms on the Calapan City–Batangas route to roll back fares after crude oil prices fell following a Middle East ceasefire. Logistics & Trade Policy: Pakistan’s foreign minister urged Turkish investment in energy, mining, power infrastructure, IT, manufacturing, agriculture and logistics, framing economic diplomacy as key to shifting global trade patterns. Cold-Chain Tech: Maersk rolled out new IoT devices aimed at improving refrigerated container tracking for faster, smarter temperature-controlled logistics.