Global news that moves freight: oil and bunker prices, container and air freight rates, wars and chokepoints such as Hormuz, the Red Sea and Suez, tariffs and carbon rules, and what each means for Sri Lankan trade.
Updated 7 October 2026. Each figure links to its source.
Brent crude
US$100.81 per barrel
+3.0% on the month
7 October 2026 · Trading Economics
Singapore VLSFO bunker
US$890 per tonne
+US$9.50 on the day
6 October 2026 · Ship & Bunker
Drewry WCI composite
US$4,434 per 40ft
-1% on the week
1 October 2026 · Drewry
SCFI composite
3,662.30 points
-0.66% on the previous reading (3,686.62)
5 October 2026 · Container News
Air cargo spot rate (Xeneta)
US$3.10 per kg, global average, September
+27% year on year, +2% on August
30 September 2026 · AJOT (Xeneta data)
Baltic Dry Index
3,002 points
-2.2% on the day
6 October 2026 · Baird Maritime
US dollar (TT selling)
Rs 335.52 per US$
Rs 335.08 on 28 Sept
7 October 2026 · Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Lanka Auto Diesel
Rs. 392 per litre
+Rs. 10 from 1 October
1 October 2026 · Daily FT
CBSL policy rate (OPR)
8.75% overnight policy rate
Unchanged on 30 Sept
30 September 2026 · Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Colombo port containers
776,300 TEUs August 2026
+4.7% year on year
31 August 2026 · Maritime Gateway
World & markets
IATA says August air cargo demand rose 4.4% with capacity flat. Xeneta puts September spot rates at US$3.10/kg, up 27%, and TAC's index rose 5% in the week to 5 October.
7 October 2026 · 3 min read
World & markets
Sea-Intelligence says about 3 million TEU is stuck in delays at Asian ports after typhoons hit Shanghai and Ningbo, with recovery taking 7 to 10 months. Intra-Asia rates are at records.
7 October 2026 · 3 min read
World & markets
With EU ETS at full coverage in 2026, Maersk and ONE reset emissions surcharges from 1 October, while IMO talks on a global carbon price stalled in September and move to December.
7 October 2026 · 4 min read
World & markets
Gemini, COSCO, MSC and now the Premier Alliance are moving Asia-Europe services back through Suez, while schedule reliability fell to 49.9% in August. Escorts in the Red Sea remain stretched.
7 October 2026 · 3 min read
World & markets
BIMCO expects fleet capacity to grow 4.6% in 2026 and 9% in 2027, with an orderbook over 14 million teu, about 42% of the fleet. A full Suez return would free even more ships.
7 October 2026 · 3 min read
World & markets
Drewry's index slipped 1% to US$4,434 per 40ft on 1 October and the SCFI eased to 3,662 points. Carriers plan FAK rises for late October, but blank sailings are low and Suez capacity is growing.
7 October 2026 · 3 min read
World & markets
Brent traded around US$101 on 5 October as Hormuz tanker attacks continued. OPEC+ held November output, and the EIA now sees Brent at US$105 in Q4 2026.
7 October 2026 · 3 min read
