News in Brief podcast | Week 17 2026 | Strait uncertainty, shifting capacity and steep surcharges

This week’s News in Brief returns to the ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East, as a ceasefire extension fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz - leaving carriers scrambling for alternatives. 

Gavin van Marle breaks down the latest developments, from vessel incidents and rerouted services to softening spot rates into the Gulf and the growing role of land-side solutions.  

We also look at early Q1 port data from Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges, and what it reveals about underlying demand - as well as the bigger question hanging over the market: is overcapacity starting to bite? 

Later in the episode, Rotate’s Jonathan Mellink joins to unpack the airfreight picture. Capacity is beginning to return in the Gulf, but unevenly, as airlines chase higher yields and redeploy lift across stronger lanes. Meanwhile, fuel shortages and rising costs are forcing tough operational decisions, adding further volatility to an already unpredictable market. 

From Hormuz to hub capacity, this episode connects the key pressure points shaping freight right now.