The most important transport and logistics news of the week – short & concise.

🇨🇭 SWITZERLAND: DIESEL & RHINE REMAIN IN FOCUS

High diesel prices continue to put pressure on the Swiss road transport industry. ASTAG has sent an urgent letter to Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter, calling for temporary relief measures to be examined.

Measures mentioned include:

⛽ tax credits on fuel costs
🚛 temporary relief on charges and fees
📊 an extraordinary adjustment of the KBOB index

At the same time, the supply situation for petroleum products remains strained. Positive news: the Cressier refinery has resumed production and no further releases from compulsory stocks are currently required.

However, the Rhine remains problematic: according to Switzerland’s National Economic Supply organisation, transport is currently severely restricted due to low water levels. Additional volumes therefore have to be shifted partly to rail and road. ASTAG

👉 For shippers: Monitor diesel and transport costs and secure capacity on alternative modes of transport early for Rhine-related shipments.

🇩🇪 GERMAN SEAPORTS: DECISIVE WEEK IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING DISPUTE

In Hamburg, Bremen/Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Emden and Brake, the ballot on possible indefinite strikes is still ongoing.

Voting continues until 1 October 2026. At least 75 percent approval is required for an indefinite strike.

⚠️ Important: At present, there is no confirmed indefinite strike.

If the required majority is reached, prolonged industrial action could significantly affect container handling as well as rail and truck pre- and on-carriage operations. ZDS Seehafenbetriebe

👉 For shippers: Monitor German seaports closely this week and prepare alternatives via Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges or other ports for time-critical shipments.

🇮🇹 ITALY: PORT STRIKE TODAY – AIR FREIGHT AFFECTED ON WEDNESDAY

Today, Monday, 28 September, a nationwide 24-hour strike is taking place in the Italian port sector.

Port companies and other businesses covered by the Italian port collective agreement are affected. Depending on local participation, delays may occur in cargo handling as well as pre- and on-carriage operations.

The next disruption follows on Wednesday, 30 September: employees of the Italian air navigation service provider ENAV will strike nationwide from 13:00 to 17:00. In addition, local strike action has been announced in Milan-Linate, Naples, Bologna and Bari, among other locations.

A further cross-sector strike has also been announced for Friday, 2 October, which may affect parts of the rail and maritime sectors. Scioperi

👉 For shippers: Plan Italian port, air freight and rail movements particularly early this week and allow additional transit time.

🚢 SUEZ: MORE ASIA–EUROPE SERVICES RETURN

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are routing additional Gemini services through the Suez Canal again instead of around the Cape of Good Hope.

The AE5, AE11, AE12 and ME2 services are gradually being switched back to Trans-Suez routing, joining other services that are already operating via this route.

For shippers, this may mean shorter transit times between Asia and Europe on affected routes. However, the shipping lines explicitly state that routing will continue to depend on the security situation. Maersk

👉 For shippers: For new Asia bookings, check the actual routing and current transit time for each shipment.

🌍 HORMUZ & GULF OF ADEN: SECURITY RISKS REMAIN HIGH

While the situation is improving on some Suez services, the security situation on other major shipping routes remains critical.

The IMO has verified 80 attacks on merchant vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the current conflict. At least 22 seafarers have lost their lives.

Piracy in the Gulf of Aden has also increased again. According to the IMO, more than 90 seafarers remain captive aboard hijacked vessels.

Switzerland’s National Economic Supply organisation also continues to report restricted shipping traffic through Hormuz as well as attacks on vessels in the Bab el-Mandab area. International Maritime Organization

👉 For shippers: Continue to assess insurance conditions, security surcharges, routings and transit times individually for Middle East shipments.

💡 TANNER LOGISTICS ASSESSMENT

This week, the main focus is on strikes and transport capacity.

🇨🇭 Monitor the diesel and Rhine situation
🇩🇪 Follow developments in the port collective bargaining dispute
🇮🇹 Take port, air and rail strikes into account
🚢 Check Suez routings individually
⚠️ Continue to monitor Hormuz and the Gulf of Aden

For shippers:

✅ plan early
✅ secure capacity
✅ monitor strikes
✅ allow additional time buffers
✅ keep alternative routings available

🚛 Road | 🚆 Rail | 🚢 Sea | ✈️ Air

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