Traffic slowly picking up in the Strait of Hormuz; EU gives final approval to install US tariff deal; Port of Antwerp-Bruges becomes the first seaport to join Pharma.Aero

Traffic slowly picking up in the Strait of Hormuz 

There was evidence on June 16 and 17 that traffic is picking up in the Strait of Hormuz, but it is far from pre-war normals. 

The movement on June 16 of three Iranian-owned VLCCs, the NITC tankers Diona (IMO 9569695), Hero2 (IMO 9362073) and the Suezmax Sonia I (IMO 9357365) out of the eastern end of the US naval blockade has already been widely reported. 

Inside the Gulf, in a snapshot of the traffic in the area of Larak Island, which shipping must pass if following the Iranian-mandated rules of the so-called Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), the area is active with groups of fast speed boats - not necessarily indicative of IRGC craft, as civilian trader speedboats often travel in small groups on their way to Khasab in the Musandam Peninsula. 

EU gives final approval to install US tariff deal 

The European Union has officially approved the implementation of key terms of the framework trade agreement it reached with the U.S. last summer, capping a turbulent monthslong saga. 

With the European Parliament voting in favor of implementation Tuesday, the bloc will eliminate tariffs on all industrial goods and provide preferential market access to a range of U.S. agricultural and seafood products. The EU will also prolong tariff-free treatment for lobster imports, including processed lobster. For its part, the U.S. agreed to cap tariffs on EU imports at 15% as part of the agreement struck in Turnberry, Scotland, last July. 

The issues already shaping 2028's West Coast port labor talks 

The next contract negotiations between West Coast dockworkers and port employers might not expire until 2028, but the ongoing debate over automation, foreign ownership at port terminals, and the future of U.S. ports is already underway. 

Speaking at the Agriculture Transportation Coalition's annual meeting in Tacoma, Washington on May 19, International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) President Bobby Olvera Jr. argued that decisions made by waterfront employers over the next two years will determine whether the parties enter bargaining with momentum or mistrust. 

"There's a lot of work to do," Olvera cautioned.

Port of Antwerp-Bruges becomes the first seaport to join Pharma.Aero 

Port of Antwerp-Bruges has joined Pharma.Aero, becoming the first seaport in the organization’s history and marking an important milestone in the evolution of global healthcare logistics collaboration. 

The addition of one of the world's leading seaports significantly broadens Pharma.Aero’s ecosystem, reinforcing its commitment to bringing together all stakeholders involved in the end-to-end transportation of pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and advanced therapies. 

Frank Van Gelder, Secretary General of Pharma.Aero, reflects on the broader implications for the healthcare logistics sector: “We are delighted to welcome Port of Antwerp-Bruges as Pharma.Aero’s first seaport member. This is a significant milestone in our journey towards representing the healthcare logistics ecosystem end-to-end. 

Air cargo cautiously welcomes US-Iran peace deal 

The framework agreement is set to be signed in Geneva on Friday and should see the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, an essential artery for the transport of oil that has been closed since the start of fighting in February. 

The closure has massively pushed up jet fuel prices while the fighting itself has resulted in supply chains shifting away from the Middle East, although operations have been returning since airspace reopened. 

Rotate data shows that airfreight capacity between the Middle East and Europe was last week down around 20% compared with a year earlier, while from Asia to the Middle East there was a 4% decline compared with a year ago.