IA Insights: October 26, 2026

Macro: Trade Policy & Diesel

• U.S. tariffs on selected Canadian goods will change October 30, removing 50% duties from certain agricultural machinery, refrigeration products, packaging, and plywood while applying them to products including carpets, certain valves, and waste products, leaving roughly $20 billion in Canadian exports subject to the levy.
  
  
• The Trump administration will pursue negotiations on wind turbine imports following a Section 232 investigation, requiring a progress report within 180 days while leaving existing steel, copper, and aluminum tariffs in place.
  
  
• The benchmark diesel price rose 9.7 cents to $6.276 per gallon, reversing three weeks of declines and increasing the index used for most trucking fuel surcharges as markets remained sensitive to Middle East developments.
  
  
• A tanker carrying 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel is bound for New York, with arrival expected November 7 under temporary U.S. sanctions relief, although energy experts cited in the reporting expect limited impact on fuel prices. 

Land: Truckload Pricing & Rail Innovation

• Knight-Swift plans to seek at least double-digit truckload rate increases as its bid season begins in November, citing stronger spot pricing and tender rejection rates running two to three times broader market measures.
  
  
• A $16.2 million federal grant will support autonomous railcar deployment on Missouri’s Columbia Terminal Railroad, where two Intramotev battery-electric railcars will progress from remote terminal switching toward autonomous mainline service under an FRA-approved test program. 

Sea: Rates, Port Capacity & Maritime Investment

• Ocean spot rates are rising despite capacity returning through Suez, with Asia–North Europe rates up 6% to $3,442 per FEU and Asia–Mediterranean rates up 3% to $3,927, while Gemini targets a near-full return to Suez routings in early 2027 if conditions permit.
  
  
• Congestion and vessel attacks are straining India–Middle East cargo flows, with reported berthing waits of two to three weeks at alternative Gulf gateways, a 50% October capacity cut on CMA CGM’s Bigex service from India, and booking prices reaching $7,000 per FEU to Jebel Ali.
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• Container dwell times increased at Los Angeles and Long Beach following record September volumes, with rail dwell rising to 7.19 days from 6.75 in August and local truck dwell increasing to 3.18 days from 2.95.
  
  
• Halifax port employers and ILA locals reached a tentative labor agreement running through 2028, with both bargaining committees unanimously recommending ratification; contract details and a voting date have not been disclosed.
  
  
• Savannah received federal approval for a $2.3 billion container terminal adding 3.5 million TEUs of annual capacity, with construction scheduled to begin in January 2028 and finish in the mid-2030s, bringing the port’s total capacity to 12 million TEUs.
  
  
• Coos Bay secured $204.8 million for rail improvements supporting the proposed Pacific Coast Intermodal Port, advancing track, bridge, and tunnel work on the 111-mile connection between the Oregon coast and inland rail markets.
  
  
• South Korean investment is advancing U.S. shipbuilding expansion, with Hanwha having spent approximately $350 million upgrading its Philadelphia yard and approved another $400 million through 2027, while HD Hyundai and Kiewit plan a new U.S. shipyard targeting full operations in 2029.
  
  
• CMB.Tech’s ammonia-powered Mineral Europa completed sea trials and began its maiden voyage to Australia, advancing alternative-fuel deployment in dry bulk shipping, although higher vessel costs, fuel prices, and storage requirements remain commercial constraints. 

Parcel & Air Cargo

• UPS partially released their 2027 GRI confirming the 5.9% headline increase and other consequential details, but the detailed rates and ZIP code changes are still pending.
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• Westboro approved restrictions targeting commercial drone deliveries, challenging Amazon’s expansion plans; the bylaw requires Massachusetts attorney general review before taking effect.
  
  
• DHL expanded its healthcare cold chain network with six bidirectional corridors, including Cincinnati connections to Singapore, Tokyo Narita, and Seoul Incheon, adding temperature-controlled routing options for pharmaceutical and other healthcare shipments.
  
  
• Boeing’s 777F surpassed the 747 as the most widely operated freighter, with more than 330 aircraft in service supplying approximately 40% of global freighter capacity, according to Boeing; a recent FAA emissions exemption permits sales of 35 additional aircraft beyond 2027.